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Just For Fun

Outfit of the Day, Vol. 9: Romper Madness (Continued)

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alejandra sky becca jumper

Got a couple new obsessions… 🙂

I caught the first one at Trader Joe’s, and I warn you — their Red Pepper Spread with Eggplant and Garlic is highly infectious/addictive.

trader joes red pepper spread

Oh, man. So good, and it’s only 15 calories per tablespoon! Tablespoon — those are the big ones.

I’ve been spreading it on almost everything edible, from flour tortilla wraps filled with hummus, avocado, shredded carrots, lettuce and diced tomatoes, to veggies and grilled fish. It also makes a great dip.

And then there are rompers…

No, wait — I don’t mean with the spread. I mean, I’ve also been obsessed with rompers. And the spread. Two different things. 🙂

Okay, why didn’t I start wearing these things years ago? I found this one here on zappos.com, the Becca Jumper by designer Alejandra Sky.

I’d never heard of the line before, but their stuff gets good reviews, and I liked the look of the piece, so I took the plunge.

And I’m so glad I did!

I brought it with me to Kauai and probably wore it more than anything else (except my red camp shirt). Even since I’ve been back, it’s all I’ve wanted to wear.

Ready to romp? If you are, here’s when/where my current romper crush/fashion romp began…

For me and my 5-foot-1-inch frame, it’s neither too long nor short, and I think it’s just loose enough. When I wear it, I don’t feel over-exposed.

Then there’s the print…which has been making me very hungry for pineapple, LOL! I’ve probably eaten five since last month.

As a matter of fact, maybe that’s what happened to the sleeves — I accidentally ate them! 🙂 But seriously, this has been my very first sleeveless romper, and it won’t be my last. Very comfortable, especially this time of year.

With rompers, you take care of your entire outfit with a single piece. I love that. No worrying about coordinating a top with pants.

Oh, and this one even has pockets. Two in the front and two in the back.

Best of all, the drawstring waist has a little bit of stretch to it, giving me breathing room around the middle.

Sometimes, like if there’s a cool breeze wherever I’m going (or strong air conditioning), I’ll wear it with a scarf, but usually not if it’s hot.

alejandra sky becca jumper
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Care to Vent About a Beauty Issue You’re Facing?

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I’m so over my chin breaking out it’s not even funny. I’m pretty sure it’s hormone related, because whenever it’s PMS time, all hell breaks loose along my jaw.

Yup, thank goodness for concealer.

It’s actually been a little better lately (knock on wood). I think I may have found a rigamarole that works, at least for now.

First, I wash my face with Peter Thomas Roth Beta Hydroxy Acid 2% Acne Wash ($35), tone with Clinique Mild Clarifying Lotion Clinique ($12.50), and then apply Kate Somerville Anti Bac Clearing Lotion ($39) in the morning or prescription 0.1 Differin Gel at night.

I also just recently started using another one of Kate’s products, Exfolikate ($19 for a trial-size 0.5-ounce tube), but I haven’t been using it for long. I’m hoping it vacuums out my pores with its salicylic acid and fruit enzymes.

Care to vent about a beauty issue you’re currently facing? Talk to me, and if you have any recommendations for chin breakouts, I’m all ears. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 219

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the makeup and blog monday poll

  • You might be wondering, “So what the heck is this Monday Poll thing anyway?”
    Well, it isn’t much of a poll. It’s more just a constantly evolving (devolving?), somewhat random list of questions I’ve been putting out to readers every Monday morning for the past four years. I’ve always enjoyed reading your answers in the comments, and I hope you enjoy reading mine.
  1. Mood:
    The sun is shining, it’s warm out, my allergies are somewhat under control — all in all, today has the makings of a pretty great day.
  2. What’s your current favorite eye look?
    The Hourglass Dune duo has been my daytime jam! I’ve been wearing both shades on my lids for an olive/gold smokey look, adding a dash of black liner along my water line for dramatic effect, LOL!
  3. What’s your favorite fried food?
    It varies, but if you start with a potato, I’ll probably like it. French fries, hash browns, tater tots, yum!

    And even though the thought of ’em frightens me a little, I get the feeling I’d be all over deep-fried Snickers bars.

  4. The next book on your reading list?
    Bossypants, by Tina Fey.

    THAT WOMAN CRACKS ME UP! But I wish she’d stop trying to sell me Garnier hair dye…

  5. How’s your sense of direction?
    Alright, I guess. I can usually find my way around, unless we’re talking about South San Francisco. That town is my navigational Achilles’ heel. It’s like the Bay Area’s Bermuda Triangle, the way the streets are laid out around the hills.

    I actually got lost there once (pre-GPS) and drove around for two hours before I found a way to get back on the highway.

  6. Do you think people can change?
    Yes, most people. Most of the time. The optimist in me says “Yes.” 🙂
  7. Your favorite lipstick of all time?
    Hmm… That’s a tough one. Probably MAC Viva Glam V, because I think it looks fantastic on almost everyone, and the proceeds go to a good cause.
  8. What’s for lunch?
    I’m craving crunchy, so maybe a crisp, cold salad with some fresh cut pineapple for desert.
  9. What advice would you give your 20-year-old self?
    What you’re feeling is depression, my love, and there’s no reason to feel embarrassed or ashamed by it. It happens to the best of us. Start by scheduling an appointment to see a counselor, and you’ll be on the road to feeling better.

    Exercise will also help you feel better sooner, so get off your butt and start moving!

  10. Weekly goals:
    Squeeze in some extra play time with Tabs. He’s been fussy about not being able to spend the warm days outside and has a lot of pent up energy. Also, keep tracking your workouts using the My Fitness Pal app (that thing really works!), and remind yourself every day that “You’re doing just fine.”

Hello, sweets. 🙂 Happy Monday! I hope you had some time over the weekend to relax and re-charge. If you have a minute today, please swing by and let me know how you’re doing in the Monday Poll. I miss you.

  • To complete the Monday Poll, just copy the following list, and paste it with your answers in the comments.



1. Mood:
2. What’s your current favorite eye look?
3. What’s your favorite fried food?
4. The next book on your reading list?
5. How’s your sense of direction?
6. Do you think people can change?
7. Your favorite lipstick of all time?
8. What’s for lunch?
9. What advice would you give your 20-year-old self?
10. Weekly goals:

I hope your week gets off to a wonderful start.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 190

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Tabs for the Dior Disco Sunglasses

I don’t know, maybe it’s the warmer weather, but Tabs has been getting ornery lately on our walks outside. Used to be he wouldn’t pull at the end of his leash. He just sort of knew after a while how far he could go (10 feet), and we’d walk around like that, exploring his favorite hill on the side of the house, the garden in the front and the neighbor’s air conditioning unit, which is also home to a bunch of big brown lizards Tabs likes to chase.

But now? Now Tabs regularly tests the end of the leash on practically every walk. I think because it’s been sunny lately, there are tall grasses everywhere, birds fluttering between the trees, and children out playing; there’s just a lot more stimulus outside. More to grab his attention.

Just imagine what it must be like for him on his business trips… I mean, if he finds the hills of Novato exciting, he must think the discotecas in Rio, the sidewalks of Key West, and the resorts in Fiji, Hawaii and Palm Springs are out of sight! 🙂

Speaking of that, here are some highlights from his most recent kitty modeling gigs…

Tabs for Bumble and Bumble Big Bottom Shorts

Tabs for Kate Somerville Key Lime Cat Cleanser
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The Weekly Roundup: Posts You Might Have Missed

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Makeup and Beauty Blog Weekly Roundup

Supermoon! I’m so stoked. Last night’s supermoon was the first celestial special event I’ve seen in … I can’t remember how long. Whenever I hear about something like a meteor shower or a planet in perfect position to see with the naked eye, I get all excited, plan to stay up late, figure out when/where I’m supposed to be in my neighborhood to get a good look at it, but then I either forget, fall asleep early, or the clouds roll in to block my view!

Not last night though. It was a perfect confluence of astrological and earth-bound factors. The moon was big and bright and hard to miss. So beautiful.

I struggled a bit this week to get back into the swing of things, only because the week started with me having fun in the tropics. I think that means I had a really good time on vacation, because I wasn’t ready for it to end. I’m still doing that thing where you say, “This time last week I was [INSERT VACATION ACTIVITY HERE].” I mean, I like my office, but it’s not the quite the same as swimming in a tropical waterfall.

A few beauty (and otherwise random) posts that caught my eye this week…

Oh, big news this weekend about recent makeup monster sightings, and a warning to be careful if there’s a fountain in front of your favorite mall…

Prodoctopus

A Makeup and Beauty Blog Makeup MonsterDescription: Prodoctopuses mostly lurk in big shopping center fountains and water elements, emerging from their depths during busy weekends, like during Macy’s and Sephora sales, when the crowds are bustling, and unassuming cosmetics shoppers are loaded down with new makeup and beauty products, which prodoctopuses consume for food.

Frequency: Rare
Speed: Medium
Armor Class: 7 (they regrow severed tentacles)
Special Attacks: Able to strike 8 times per round
Special Defenses: Underwater breathing; liquid mascara ink cloud
Intelligence: Medium
Alignment: Evil
Size: Large (20′ long, including tentacles)


Makeup and Beauty Blog Makeup Monsters

Bumble and Bumble Color Minded Line Bumble and Bumble and a Boat Called Sea Breeze

MAC Pink Poodle Lipglass MAC Unsung Heroes: Pink Poodle Lipglass

Come on, Don't Be (Color) Shy: A Beginner's Guide to the World of Color A Beginner’s Guide to the World of Color

7 Step Manicure 7 Steps to a Perfect DIY Manicure

3 Easy Makeup Looks 3 Easy Makeup Looks to Streamline Your Summer

Neutrogena MoistureShine Lip Soother Neutrogena Moisture Shine Lip Soothers

Wearable Orange Lipsticks 5 Wearable Orange Lipsticks for $13 or Less

Kauai Day 5 Kauai, Day 5: Jungle Hikes, Kayaks and Ke’e Beach

Tarte Gifts From the Lipstick Tree This Summer, Tarte Comes Bearing Gifts From the Lipstick Tree

DIY Skincare With Lemon 4 Easy DIY Skincare Recipes With Lemon

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Two Ways to Win a $50 eGift Card from Sephora!

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  • WINNER: The giveaway is closed now, and the winner is Jane! Congratulations, Jane! If you entered but didn’t win this time around, keep trying, and click here to enter any ongoing giveaways before you jet. 🙂

A Makeup and Beauty Blog giveaway
A Makeup and Beauty Blog giveaway

My heavens, it’s such a nice day out here. I woke up feeling a little run down today, like I didn’t sleep well for some reason, but then El Hub opened the drapes and a wave of warm sunshine flooded over me. Suddenly I felt a whole lot better. 🙂

Rise and shine, morning glory! Welcome to the weekend.

Not much on my plate today, other than catching up on some emails and doing a little product testing. I would like to go get Mexican food for lunch and maybe go for a hike to soak up some of this sunshine. That sounds like a nice way to spend a Cinco de Mayo.

I think I’m gonna go make myself a second cup of Kauai coffee now. Why don’t you enter today’s Sephora eGift card giveaway while I’m gone?

Be right back.

What folks are saying…

“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

“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)

“Never before have I been so pleased to check my email right before bed!!! Thank you so, so much! I truly enjoy your blog and check it almost daily! Thanks again! This made my night!”
-Melissa, Edmond, OK

“Hi Karen. Oh my goodness! I can’t believe I won! :O Thank you so much! You, Tabs, and your blog are amazing! Thank you for keeping me updated on all things beauty and more importantly, for keeping me entertained! Keep doing your thing! 🙂 Thank you again.”
-Jacqueline

“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

Win a $50 gift card from Sephora

  • 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, have you ever been to Mexico? Are you currently happy with your hair? What are you wearing on your nails? Describe your skincare regimen. Are you reading anything good? How do you feel about audio books? — you get the idea.
  • Second, you can enter by following me on twitter Twitter @karenmbb and retweeting (RT) the following message:
    • Follow @karenmbb and RT to Win a $50 eGift Card from Sephora! http://bit.ly/JTNDeV

  • The deadline to enter is Sunday, May 6, 2012 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 Jane! Congratulations, Jane! If you entered but didn’t win this time around, keep trying, and click here to enter any ongoing giveaways before you jet. 🙂

3 Lessons Learned About Travel: Perfecting the Art of Packing

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3 packing lessons learned from kauai trip

Traveling is not one of my favorite things about traveling. I mean, the actual traveling part — the getting there — is not my idea of fun.

The rushing, the waiting, the feeling that I’m always forgetting something, the lugging around of luggage, and that strap from my carry-on bag that digs into my shoulder, the airport security checkpoint, the man who keeps sneezing next to me without covering his mouth (come on, sir!), and oh, they don’t serve food on this flight? No problem, I’ll just eat the kid behind me on the plane who KEEPS KICKING MY CHAIR, GAH!

At least it’s only a five-hour flight…

But one thing I do like about traveling is picking up new travel tricks to make future trips easier.

Over the past few years, I think I’ve gotten pretty good at a few aspects of air travel, like remembering where I parked my car after the return flight (TIP: snap a picture of your parking space with a camera phone) and zipping through the security checkpoint (TIP: wear shoes without buckles or laces that you can easily slip on and off), but packing? — packing is still not one of my strong points.

I over-pack. That’s all there is to it. I’m the girl who brings 15 pairs of underwear for a five-day getaway because you just never know if you’ll need the extra drawers. Like, what if I work out, and I want to change my underwear after? Right? I’d rather have more pairs than less.

But I am getting better at streamlining. I think. And I even learned a few new packing lessons on my recent trip to Kauai…

1. Pack in twos

It seemed counter-intuitive to me at first, but by doubling up on certain pieces of clothing, I had enough to cover my needs.

For example, on this trip I planned/hoped to exercise every day, but instead of packing five sports bras — which was my inclination — I only brought two. I’d work out in the first one, wash it in the hotel room sink, and hang it up on the balcony to dry.

If it was still damp the next day, I’d wear my second bra, and alternate between the two of them like that.

Saved a lot of room in my suitcase.

2. Work those workout clothes

Even if you don’t plan to hit the gym on your trip, bring that workout wear anyway. It’s usually lightweight, comfortable, easy to clean (even in the sink or bath), quick drying, suitable for spontaneous outdoor activities (like hiking, sightseeing, etc.), and wrinkle resistant. Plus, it doesn’t take up much room in your luggage or add a lot of bulk to your bag.


Gray tank top by Zella

I brought a few pieces from Zella on this trip, the in-house Nordstrom brand that’s basically like Lululemon but a little cheaper. I think their stuff is pretty stylish and definitely comfy. Perfect to wear on hikes.
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Kauai, Day 5: Jungle Hikes, Kayaks and Ke’e Beach

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I’m a little sad about having to leave Kauai this morning, but vacations never last forever…

Who am I kidding? I’m very sad about it. No more falling asleep to the sound of waves crashing on the beach, no more secret swimming holes and snorkeling spots, no more lush tropical landscapes, jungle hikes, waterfalls or fresh papaya picked from farms down the street!

And what about the kitties!? Poor Tuxie, Tortie Girl and Tabby Mac. Who will feed the kitties!?

Oh…I know someone else will. I hope. It’s time for me to pass the torch/Friskies box to another CCL.

In other news, we kept busy yesterday, trying to squeeze in as much fun as possible on our last day here. We started with a kayak ride up the Wailua River (just one small part of it) and a hike to the Secret Falls, and finished the day at Ke’e Beach, located at the very end of the paved road that runs along the east and north sides of the island. There’s nothing else beyond it except treacherous jungle hikes and steep cliffs along the coast.

It’s going to be tough leaving this beautiful island, but that’s the thing about beauty — it’s everywhere we look. 🙂 This time tomorrow I’ll be back in the Bay, so I’ll see you again soon from California.

But before that, here’s one last look (for now) at lovely Kauai…

This way to the Secret Falls


Diving feet first into the Wailua River…


This way to adventure!
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