Giveaways

** THE GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED **
This giveaway is closed, and the winner has been contacted (CONGRATULATIONS, KAREN!!!), but check back next Saturday for another giveaway.

Good morning and happy Caturday! ?

I hope you’re having a great morning so far. I’m just making myself some French toast and a cup of decaf green tea for breakfast while Tabs whines and mewls incessantly around the house.

He’s a very mad/sad tabby right now.

I think his meows roughly translate to, “Caturdays are the WORST, Mom!” Because we sleep in a little, which means that he doesn’t get to go outside at the crack of dawn like he does on the weekdays.

But I’ll take him out right after I have my noms, and after that, I’m heading to Napa for a weekend girls’ trip with my friends Jen and Cindy, just to hang out and relax. We’re gonna do a sleepover at the Meritage Resort & Spa and chill out by the ? pool.

Yes, I am really looking forward to that.

I hope that you have a wonderful Saturday and a great weekend ahead of you. I’d better go attend to Tabs now because he’s FREAKIN’ out. His highness is freakin’ out! Talk to you soon.

• One (1) MAC eGift card containing $50 sent to the winner by email (international readers, you may opt to receive $50 sent by PayPal instead).

• Enter by leaving a comment below.
• Open to U.S. and international readers.
• You must be 18 or older to enter (or otherwise an adult based on your local laws).
• Your comment can be about anything at all, but here are some ideas if you’re stuck:
  • Favorite MAC counter in the whole entire world?
  • Have you ever done any freestyle rapping?
  • Best casual conversation you had this week?
  • Last time you tried something new with your makeup and it turned out great?
  • Something other than a picture or a painting hanging on your walls?
  • Funniest movie you’ve ever seen?
• One entry per person.
• You must use a valid email address to win.
• The giveaway ends on Monday, July 27, 2015 at 11:59 PM (Pacific Time). 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

** THE GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED **
This giveaway is closed, and the winner has been contacted (CONGRATULATIONS, ANNA!!!), but check back next Saturday for another giveaway.

Good morning, glory! Happy Caturday to ya. 🙂

Do you know where your kitty nephew is?

No, I’m serious, do you know where he is? Because I haven’t seen him in a while, which means he’s probably somewhere up to no good…

How’s it going this morning? Did you do anything fun last night? We just stayed in, had grilled cheese sammies and watched Fear (the SCARY one from the 1996 with Marky Mark and Reese Witherspoon).

Dang, that is a SCARY movie! I hadn’t seen in it years, and I totally forgot about M. Wahlberg’s scary psycho whisper voice…

In other news, this weekend, I don’t know what we’re up to yet. I’d like to start by getting a Meyer lemon croissant and a warm beverage for breakfast. Then I’ll consider my options. 🙂

I hope whatever you’re doing involves fun. Talk to you soon, my friend. Good luck in the giveaway.

• One (1) MAC eGift card containing $50 sent to the winner by email (international readers, you may opt to receive $50 sent by PayPal instead).

• Enter by leaving a comment below.
• Open to U.S. and international readers.
• You must be 18 or older to enter (or otherwise an adult based on your local laws).
• Your comment can be about anything at all, but here are some ideas if you’re stuck:
  • What was your favorite piece of makeup this time last year?
  • Who makes the best bronzers?
  • Your favorite (non-makeup) artist?
  • What was the name of your elementary school?
  • Have you ever helped with a harvest? What was the crop?
  • Can you do any impressions?
• One entry per person.
• You must use a valid email address to win.
• The giveaway ends on Monday, July 20, 2015 at 11:59 PM (Pacific Time). 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

** THE GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED **
This giveaway is closed, and the winner has been contacted (CONGRATULATIONS, LAUREN!!!), but check back next Saturday for another giveaway.

It’s time to rise and shine, pal o’ mine. Time to get out there and seize the day! — juuuust as soon as I have a cup of something caffeinated, LOL! 🙂

How’s it going so far this weekend/morning? Things are pretty good out here. Tabs hasn’t been outside yet, so he’s fussy, but nothing new there.

Did you do anything fun last night? All we did was go to a movie, that Me and Earl and the Dying Girl. It’s a coming-of-age movie, but it doesn’t deserve to be pigeonholed like that. Highly, highly, HIGHLY recommended. It avoids the cliches that so many other movies in that genre wholeheartedly embrace and isn’t driven by cheesy caricatures or angsty romance. I really enjoyed it.

Other than that, nothing new to report.

Oh! — the baby birds that I told you about that are nesting in the hanging planter on my deck? They grew up! Yup, they left the nest, so it’s a little quieter around here in the mornings without the hatchlings chirping (yes, I miss the baby birds).

I haven’t figured out what we’re doing yet today, but whatever it is, I intend for it to be equal parts relaxing and fun, during the parts that don’t involve, you know, chores and stuff.

Have a great weekend, whatever you’re up to, and I’ll talk to you soon.

• One (1) MAC eGift card containing $50 sent to the winner by email (international readers, you may opt to receive $50 sent by PayPal instead).

• Enter by leaving a comment below.
• Open to U.S. and international readers.
• You must be 18 or older to enter (or otherwise an adult based on your local laws).
• Your comment can be about anything at all, but here are some ideas if you’re stuck:
  • Favorite MAC finish?
  • Have you ever been to a rodeo?
  • Do you have a nickname?
  • Have you ever worn a tiara?
  • Have you ever been to a makeup/beauty convention?
  • Someone famous in your family (past or present)?
• One entry per person.
• You must use a valid email address to win.
• The giveaway ends on Monday, July 13, 2015 at 11:59 PM (Pacific Time). 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

** THE GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED **
This giveaway is closed, and the winner has been contacted (CONGRATULATIONS, KIYANNA!!!), but check back next Saturday for another giveaway.

Happy 4th of July!

Mmm… I can already smell the barbecue (make mine fish and veggies, please).

Rise and shine, pal o’ mine! It’s Independence Day weekend. I hope you have fun plans.

We’ll probably get ready to go here pretty soon to watch the Novato parade. Last year I brought my good camera with me and got some choice pics of celebratory red, white and blue-wearing canine fashion models. I wonder how this year’s talent stacks up…

In other news, Magic Mike XXL: guess who “went there” last night.

GURL, YAAASS! My friend Marisol and I went last night, and it was…oh, my goodness. It was WEIRD. Fo’ reals, though. It’s kind of random (yes, there’s a stripper convention involved) but, you know, the dudes. If you liked the first one, it makes less sense than that, but it doesn’t really matter, if you know what I mean. 🙂

LOL!

OK, I better get moving. Your tabby nephew is completely unhappy with my job performance right now because he hasn’t gone outside yet for his usual morning walk. He just nipped my legs as if to say “WOMAN!” so I’d better go attend to my duties.

Thanks for stopping by, my friend, and have a great weekend.

• One (1) MAC eGift card containing $50 sent to the winner by email (international readers, you may opt to receive $50 sent by PayPal instead).

• Enter by leaving a comment below.
• Open to U.S. and international readers.
• You must be 18 or older to enter (or otherwise an adult based on your local laws).
• Your comment can be about anything at all, but here are some ideas if you’re stuck:
  • What was the last limited edition makeup collection you went all out for?
  • Something you splurged on this week?
  • Have you ever helped anyone translate something?
  • Have you ever gone back to a salon to ask a stylist to change or fix your hair?
  • Favorite barbecue snack or food?
  • Biggest makeup mystery? (Something that you just don’t understand or can’t figure out.)
• One entry per person.
• You must use a valid email address to win.
• The giveaway ends on Monday, July 6, 2015 at 11:59 PM (Pacific Time). 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

** THE GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED **
This giveaway is closed, and the winner has been contacted (CONGRATULATIONS, LAURA!!!), but check back next Saturday for another giveaway.

Rise and shine, morning glory. Happy caturday! 🙂

So much on my mind right now because it’s been a BIG week, but let’s get the important things out of the way first. Are you ready? Let’s start with this: bunnies. And almost tailless cats.

Yes, I’m referring to my part-time petsitting duties, but no, I haven’t taken any pictures yet, even though I really want to, because I haven’t gotten permission from my friends to share them online. 🙁

BUT I REALLY WANT TO. LOL!

First, there’s Malu, an orange and white love muffin with big, bright brown eyes and half a tail. She likes eating, flashing her tum on the floor and taking longs walks around the dining room.

And then there’s Zee-Zee, a rambunctious white bunny with black pointed ears who enjoys cat-watching from the comfort of her extra-large cage and snacking on fresh veggies (last night she had kale).

Both of them are painfully adorbs.

In other news…Monte Rio Beach on the Russian River. I don’t think we’ll be going kayaking there today because it’s actually almost cold. A foggy weather front came in, and it’s not ideal kayaking weather, so that throws a wrench into our plans.

We’ll see though… If it warms up at all we’ll go.

This week flew by for me so fast that it feels almost like I didn’t participate! — like this week literally skipped right by. I dunno, it’s weird. But I feel like I’ve been MIA for a while, even though I’ve been right here. Weird.

I hope you had a good week and that somebody politely held a door open for you. Have a kick-@ss pre-4th of July weekend. Talk to you soon, my friend. The giveaway starts in 3-2-1…

• One (1) MAC eGift card containing $50 sent to the winner by email (international readers, you may opt to receive $50 sent by PayPal instead).

• Enter by leaving a comment below.
• Open to U.S. and international readers.
• You must be 18 or older to enter (or otherwise an adult based on your local laws).
• Your comment can be about anything at all, but here are some ideas if you’re stuck:
  • Do you notice your skin gets better or worse after certain foods?
  • When was the last time you had a good foot massage?
  • Do you ever meditate?
  • What’s a good name for a great eyeshadow?
  • Have you ever fallen asleep in a lecture or meeting?
  • What’s one of your favorite parts of doing your makeup?
• One entry per person.
• You must use a valid email address to win.
• The giveaway ends on Monday, June 29, 2015 at 11:59 PM (Pacific Time). 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

** THE GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED **
This giveaway is closed, and the winner has been contacted (CONGRATULATIONS, KATHERINE!!!), but check back next Saturday for another giveaway.

Goood morning, glory! Rise and shine! 🙂 You’re going to have a wonderful day.

I hope you slept well. I feel like I could have slept longer, but you know how it is when you work for a demanding feline employer. The early cat catches the bird. The tabby alarm clock woke me up early because we have to get out there on patrol. It’s bright and sunny this morning, so who knows how many cat intruders have infiltrated the perimeter of the hill…

Oh! — that movie last night? Inside Out? What an amazing movie, animated or otherwise. From this one (part-time) adult’s point of view, I thought it was brilliant. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a movie more thoughtfully present joy, depression, fear, anger and general adolescence, at least not in a way as entertaining as this. I kept thinking, “Holy crap! That’s really what it’s like!” when they’d show one of the characters overjoyed or depressed. Highly recommended for children of all ages. I think it’s right up there with Pixar’s best.

In other news, are you doing anything for Father’s Day tomorrow? My brother and I are taking my dad out to lunch, but I’m not sure where yet. My dad is kind of picky when it comes to food, so we’re going to let him pick the restaurant. Chances are it’ll be something involving charred meat, and I’ll just go with the flow… Hopefully there will be some semblance of veggies involved.

Good luck in the giveaway, my friend. Have a great weekend, and I’ll talk to you soon.

• 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).

• Enter by leaving a comment below.
• Open to U.S. and international readers.
• You must be 18 or older to enter (or otherwise an adult based on your local laws).
• Your comment can be about anything at all, but here are some ideas if you’re stuck:
  
  • Who’s the toughest person you know?
  • Do you have a good imagination?
  • What’s your go-to lazy day makeup look?
  • How old were you when you got your first cell phone?
  • Which would you use more: a good eyeshadow quad or an amazing 10-pan palette?
• One entry per person.
• You must use a valid email address to win.
• The giveaway ends on Monday, June 22, 2015 at 11:59 PM (Pacific Time). 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

** THE GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED **
This giveaway is closed, and the winner has been contacted (CONGRATULATIONS, AMOURE!!!), but check back next Saturday for another giveaway.

Birthday beignets, po’ boys and art gallery cats! — ’twas an interesting (and fun) week.

I hope yours went well, too. Things here in Novato, California are still chugging along. It’s a little overcast this morning, but I’m pretty sure the misty morning fog will burn off by the afternoon. Then it’ll be hot, hot, hot.

Your nephew, King Tabby, is sitting right behind me on the couch. He says “mrow!” by the way. 🙂

I get the strong feeling that he’s hoping we’re going to go outside soon for a walk, because while I was out stuffing my gullet with beignets, he was stuck here with his petsitter in the house. Now I’m sure he’s raring to go (you know how seriously he takes securing the perimeter).

In other news, what’s the plan for this weekend? Is it sunny there?

• One (1) MAC eGift card containing $50 sent to the winner by email (international readers, you may opt to receive $50 sent by PayPal instead).

• Enter by leaving a comment below.
• Open to U.S. and international readers.
• You must be 18 or older to enter (or otherwise an adult based on your local laws).
• Your comment can be about anything at all, but here are some ideas if you’re stuck:
  • Other than yours if you’re married, what’s the most amazing wedding you’ve ever attended?
  • Do you know how to skip?
  • What’s a lipstick, gloss or balm you’ve been loving lately?
  • What was your favorite field trip when you were a kid?
  • When was the last time you felt like you “knocked it out of the park”?
  • When you hear the word “suave,” does anyone particular come to mind?
• One entry per person.
• You must use a valid email address to win.
• The giveaway ends on Monday, June 15, 2015 at 11:59 PM (Pacific Time). 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

** THE GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED **
This giveaway is closed, and the winner has been contacted (CONGRATULATIONS, ELISABETH!!!), but check back next Saturday for another giveaway.

Rise and shine, pal o’ mine, and happy Caturday! 🙂 It’s a sunny day in Novato, haaay!

Today’s headlines…

A new family of finches has moved into the hanging plant on my deck, and the bird action has been intense. The mommy and daddy birds get very chirpy and protective whenever Tabs or I go out there. It’s exciting stuff. I can control myself, of course, by the tabby overlord keeps wanting to get in on the action, so I have to keep a close eye on him when we’re outside.

Also, New Orleans! We’re heading out there for my birthday next week, and I’m damned excited. I’ve never been there before, but I’ve always wanted to go. I plan to take a bazillion pictures while scouring the French Quarter for interesting things to share. I’ll be checking in from time to time.

Have a great weekend, whatever you’re up to. Your tabby nephew says “mrow.”

Oh! — the new MAC website. Brace yourself. It’s coming soon. I have it on good authority that we’ll be seeing the brand new MAC website very, very soon (here’s a hint: on what day of the week do we usually do that poll?). 🙂

• One (1) MAC eGift card containing $50 sent to the winner by email (international readers, you may opt to receive $50 sent by PayPal instead).

• Enter by leaving a comment below.
• Open to U.S. and international readers.
• You must be 18 or older to enter (or otherwise an adult based on your local laws).
• Your comment can be about anything at all, but here are some ideas if you’re stuck:
  • Mirror, mirror on the wall, what’s your favorite MAC finish or formula of them all?
  • What’s the rarest, most collectible piece of makeup you own?
  • Do you believe in the Abominable Snowman or the Loch Ness monster?
  • What’s the longest you’ve gone without shaving?
  • Have you ever cheated at cards?
  • Do you know anyone whom you swear really does have ESP/a sixth sense?
• One entry per person.
• You must use a valid email address to win.
• The giveaway ends on Monday, June 8, 2015 at 11:59 PM (Pacific Time). 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen