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What’s Your Weekend Beauty Homework?

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Weekend Beauty Homework
Clockwise from the left: MAC 30 Lash ($8), MAC 36 Lash ($15) and MAC 34 Lash ($15)

I gave myself a few beauty assignments this weekend. In no particular order, I’d like to give myself an at-home mani/pedi, apply a face mask (I’m still stuck on Tata Harper’s Resurfacing Mask), and do a head-to-toe exfoliation with Koke’e Body Polish by Malie Organics, a Hawaiian indie skincare line.

Oh, yeah. Teacher also wants me to practice applying false lashes… The MAC video at the bottom of this post has inspired me to up my lash game.

How about you? Do you have any weekend beauty homework assignments?

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 Amy! Congratulations, Amy! 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

Tabs is such a creature of habit, and if something forces him to break one of his regular patterns, he gets very fussy. Every morning, as long as I’m awake before dawn, he requires at least 5 minutes of lap-time lurvies to set the tone for the day, and if I’m busy, incoherent, or just not paying close enough attention to my petting, he’ll grumble, mumble and nibble at my elbows and hands as if to say, “You’re doing a terrible job.”

He also does this thing I call “the circuit,” which he does throughout the day, where he sprints down the hallway (slipping and sliding, because the floor is tiled), through the dining room, the kitchen and then to the living room and back to the hallway almost to where he started. And he always runs in the exact same direction every time, counter clockwise.

At Nordstrom the other day, I realized that I do a circuit, too. With makeup counters. And I’ve been running pretty much the same route for, oh, eight years!

It always starts at MAC, and then I sprint to Chanel and Laura Mercier, and then around the perimeter of the department to Clarins, Clinique, Shiseido, YSL, Dior, Estée Lauder, Bobbi Brown and Trish McEvoy, before finishing at Lancôme (sometimes out of breath!).

I also do a circuit at Sephora, where I start on the right side of the store and work my way around counter-clockwise (it just feels right).

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, do you have a circuit/pattern you follow when you visit the beauty department? What was the first counter you ever visited? What’s on your current beauty lemming list? Have you ever worked at a makeup counter? Do you have allergies (because I do)? What’s your favorite eye primer? — 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/IFdvza

  • The deadline to enter is Sunday, April 15, 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 Amy! Congratulations, Amy! If you entered but didn’t win this time around, keep trying, and click here to enter any ongoing giveaways before you jet. 🙂

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 214

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The Marin Headlands on the north side of the Golden Gate, California, April 8, 2012

  • 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:
    Excited! I’m heading into the city to have a late breakfast with two of my buddies this morning, Heather and Marisol. We’re all into beauty, so I’m looking forward to good grubbin’ and makeup chat. Can’t wait!
  2. Have you ever consulted with a psychic or palm reader?
    Just once. I used to work for a pretty big law firm, and on Fridays every summer they’d host these wacky events for the staff, like themed lunches and whatnot. One Friday they brought in a group of psychic readers, and I met with a gal who — I swear she either really did have “the gift,” or maybe she was just really good at reading body language, like that guy from The Mentalist…

    Anywho, I asked her what she saw in store for me over the next 10 years, and whether or not she saw law school in my future. She said no, and said I’d end up doing something creative and unusual, which I think sums up blogging pretty well.

  3. Do you ever buy lottery tickets?
    Oh, yeah. But I’m not as serious about it as my parents are. They’ve been playing the same numbers every week for the past 20 years!
  4. Have you ever been the victim of makeup theft?
    Not makeup, but I have had perfume stolen. I lived with a sticky-fingered roommate when I first moved out to San Francisco. Right before she moved out, she stole a bottle of Gucci Envy, a few sweaters and a bottle of Moet that my boss had given me for Christmas. I’m still pretty salty about it…
  5. What’s one of your go-to tricks for radiant skin?
    Wearing lotion with some pearl in it, or a highlighting lotion. I swear by MAC Strobe Cream and actually keep a couple tubes of it stockpiled in my beauty closet.
  6. I could be a contender for the title of Most Likely to _________________.
    Ah! Where to start?! Most likely to … have a cat watch her while she uses the bathroom. Most likely to be 10 minutes late. Most likely to fall asleep standing up. Most likely to shave her toes. Most likely to find popcorn in her bra. Most likely to turn into Liz Lemon from 30 Rock.

    The possibilities are endless…

  7. Do you have a friend who’s always up for anything?
    My friend Cindy. She has a taste for adventure, and she’s always up for trying something new.

    Well, with the exception of makeup. She’s not really into it, but dagnabbit! — I’m determined to get her to try on some blush one of these days.

  8. Time for our afternoon snack break! Where should we go?
    I’m taking you to Pinkberry for some kick-ass fro yo, ma!
  9. What’s one thing you were surprised to learn about yourself?
    That I have an artistic side. Because I grew up on a strict science track. I denied my creative interests all throughout my teens and early 20s because they really weren’t valued in my family. It’s only been over the past few years that I’ve started to think of myself as someone with a creative side.
  10. Weekly goals:
    Fill one page in my journal every day with a list of things I’m grateful for. Finish my taxes (they’re hanging over my head like a dark cloud!), and go to yoga class at least twice.

Hi, cutie. 🙂 Here we go again. It’s another Monday, and I’m feeling really good — not just about the day, but generally, overall.

Maybe it’s the weather. When it’s sunny outside like it is today and the songbirds are singing, I can’t help but feel … energized.

Can you stop by for a quick hello in the Monday poll? Missed ya over the weekend!

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



1. Mood:
2. Have you ever consulted with a psychic or palm reader?
3. Do you buy lottery tickets?
4. Have you ever been the victim of makeup theft?
5. What’s one of your go-to tricks for radiant skin?
6. I could be a contender for the title of Most Likely to _________________.
7. Do you have a friend who’s always up for anything?
8. Time for our afternoon snack break! Where should we go?
9. What’s one thing you were surprised to learn about yourself?
10. Weekly goals:

You have a wonderful week, okay?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Sundays with Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 186

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The Tabs Diaries Uncensored

Dear Diary,

I’m really getting tired of the menu selection here and how it totally lacks any kind of seasonal variety. Like today, you’d think my assistant would have prepared something special for Easter brunch — maybe an array of tasty springtime gravy appetizers — but noooo.

I recently saw an episode of Must Love Cats where these kitties in the Hamptons actually had personal chefs who prepared their meals from scratch.

FROM SCRATCH!

Kitty in a bag

I’m thinking about sending my assistant to culinary school just to get her thinking more creatively about the menu. Seriously, it would be like the gift that keeps on giving.

Spa update

Things are starting to come together for that upscale kitty spa I told you about. You remember how I met with a life coach at the start of the year? We talked about expanding my kitty beauty empire?

Well, we haven’t nailed down a name yet (I’m partial to “A Purr-fect Place to Relax”), but we have the basic details worked out.

It’ll be a high-end establishment catering to kitty supermodels. Not your run-of-the-mill kitty daycare scene. Think solace and relief. We’ll offer services like deep-tissue kitty massage, fur facials, catnip aroma therapy rooms, manis/pedis — the works!

Kitty in the sink

I mean, it’s so hard for cats to balance work and a personal life these days. I know that in my case, I have to fight for my me time, and I just feel that if it’s that way for me, it must be that way for other kitties, too.
[Continue reading…]

What’s One Makeup or Beauty Lesson You Recently Learned?

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What's one recent makeup or beauty lesson?

I recently learned a valuable lesson about my bangs. I have naturally wavy hair, and if I don’t straighten my longish side-swept bangs every day, they curl up and stick out in all kinds of crazy directions.

Thanks to a tip from the gal who does my hair (thank you, Alis!), I learned that I get much straighter, flatter bangs if I straighten them with a flat paddle brush than I’m able to get with a round brush, which creates more of an arced shape.

So, after I step out of the shower, I draw as much moisture from my hair as I can with an Acquis hair towel, and then spray my bangs with Living Proof Straight Spray.

Then, with the paddle brush (here’s one for $6 from Goody) and my T3 hairdryer, I straighten! Five minutes of work, and my bangs lay flat and straight all day long. 🙂

Now how about you?

What’s one makeup or beauty lesson you recently learned?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

The Weekly Roundup: Posts You Might Have Missed

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Makeup and Beauty Blog Weekly Roundup

It’s Easter, everyone! And I hope wherever you are, whatever you’re doing, you’re having a wonderful day. 🙂

First thing this morning, while I was still asleep, El Hub sneaked out of the house on a quest to find hot doughnuts and coffee. Not an easy task at 7 on Easter morning (even Starbucks is closed), but he somehow succeeded! He must have found the only open doughnut shop in the county, LOL!

Yup, fresh doughnuts and coffee are a pretty good way to start a lazy day.

In other news, no makeup monster sightings today, but I’m sure they’ll be back soon… I bet they’re just busy with their families today.

If you feel like saying hi, I’d love to hear from you. Please drop me a line in the comments.

A few beauty posts that caught my eye…

Makeup and Beauty Blog Weekly Roundup

MAC Modesty Cremesheen Lipstick MAC Modesty Cremesheen Lipstick

MAC Reel Sexy Collection Lipstick The MAC Reel Sexy Collection Lipsticks

CK One Color Makeup The New CK One Color Makeup Line

The Becca Balearic Love Collection Violet and Bronze Line and Define Pencil The Becca Balearic Line and Define Pencil in Cabrera

MAC Tres Cheek For Cheeks That Turn Heads: MAC Très Cheek

Cheeky Monkey Cosmetics Nail Polish This Cheeky Monkey Is Having a Blast With Nails

MAC Extra Dimension Eye Shadow MAC Extra Dimension Eye Shadow

MAC Extra Dimension Mineralize Skinfinish MAC Extra Dimension Mineralize Skinfinish

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 Katrina! Congratulations, Katrina! 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

I’m really hoping to go to brunch this morning because I’m craving banana pancakes like crazy!

Mmm, pancakes…

Happy Easter weekend! 🙂 You know what I don’t understand? Oatmeal at brunch. Maybe it’s because I have oatmeal for breakfast every other day during the week (I call it gruel). But I figure, if I’m going out to breakfast or brunch, I like to have something a little special, ya know?

Don’t get me wrong — I love oatmeal, but I can’t remember the last time I heard someone say, “We should totally go to this place I heard about for brunch because they have AMAZING oatmeal.”

LOL!

Another of my favorite breakfast/brunch foods: hash browns. I’ve yet to perfect the art of making hash brown at home. Mine are usually overdone.

As much as I love breakfast, I’m not the greatest breakfast cook. I think it takes my brain a lot longer to wake up than it takes my tummy.

What folks are saying…

“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)

“Hi Karen and Tabs. Wow! Thanks so much for this! It’s hard to believe I actually won something. I can’t wait to shop my little heart out! Thanks again. Love to Tabs! And I love your blog with the Tabs stories. ;+)”
-Sophie, St Petersburg, FL

“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, when was the last time you went out to breakfast/brunch? Do you apply your makeup before or after breakfast? Are you reading any good books? Are your brows filled in right now? What are you up to this weekend (happy Easter!)? — 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/HoAEFX

  • The deadline to enter is Sunday, April 8, 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 Katrina! Congratulations, Katrina! If you entered but didn’t win this time around, keep trying, and click here to enter any ongoing giveaways before you jet. 🙂

What Part of Your Morning Beauty Routine Takes the Most Time?

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Your morning makeup routine?

I’m a poky little puppy in the morning, but in my defense, I can barely walk or talk when I first get up.

Every morning, I stumble from the bed to the bathroom and stare at myself bleary-eyed in the mirror. Then, I try to focus on (what should be) a single simple thought: “Must wash face.”

I usually wash with a cleanser, use a toner, a serum, apply a moisturizer if I’m extra dry, and then finish with sunscreen. The routine should take me less than 5 minutes, but when my brain’s still in morning molasses mode, it can take up to six times that long!

I don’t know why… It just does.

It’s funny, but when I was younger, I spent more time in the mornings fussing with my hair than I did with my makeup or anything else, sometimes up to an hour. Now, I usually just let it do whatever it wants, but when I do curl or straighten, neither process takes more than 10 minutes tops.

How about you? What part of your morning beauty routine takes the most time?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

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