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Just For Fun

Outfit of the Day, Vol. 6: Layered By the Bay

March 15th, 2012 by Karen 30 Comments

outfit of the day (7)

You may have heard the old adage, “If you’re planning a trip to San Francisco, always dress in layers.”

Some good advice right there, because despite being only 47 square miles, S.F. weather can vary wildly from one neighborhood to the next. One minute, you’re sunning yourself at a sidewalk cafe in the Mission District (here’s a city map); the next, you’re freezing your booty off by the beach in the Richmond (my old stomping grounds!).

Better to be safe than sorry.

Enter layers! — pieces of clothing you can quickly peel on/off.

Before driving into the city yesterday, I set aside a few of my favorite things to layer…

My crunchy outer shell (LOL!) consisted of this zippered faux-leather jacket I found at Nordstrom a couple seasons ago… I think the rich chocolate color goes well with black and gray clothes.

outfit of the day (6)

Under the jacket, because the city can get pretty cold, and because I also wanted to be able to cover my head if it started raining (which it did), I wore this zippered hoodie by Zella.

(SIDE NOTE: Zella is a line of fitness clothing kinda like a less expensive version of Lululemon. I’ve been finding their stuff at Nordstrom.)

outfit of the day (5)
[Continue reading…]

There are 30 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Fashion, Just For Fun Keywords: fashion

How Often Do You Wear Colorful Makeup?

March 14th, 2012 by Karen 41 Comments

How often do you wear colorful makeup?

Pretty often, but it depends. When it comes to my eyes, I love color, especially bright color, but the further I get into my 30s, I have to admit, I feel less and less comfortable in lime greens and hot pinks when I’m tooling around the grocery store.

These days, if I’m just hanging around and not out doing something fancy or fun, I usually stick to neutral eyes with maybe a little pop of color on my lids or along my lash lines.

As for my cheeks, I have no such qualms. I’ll totally do brights under almost any circumstances, but I’ll usually apply them with a light hand.

And lips? Gimme a bright pink, red or orange pout any day of the week. 🙂

How about you? How often do you wear colorful makeup?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Almost over the hump, huzzah! What are you up to tonight? I’m just about to watch last night’s episode of Southland (seriously, how did we get along before DVRs?) and re-read a little more of The Hunger Games.

Hope you had a great day.

There are 41 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 211

March 12th, 2012 by Karen 64 Comments

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:
  2. Surprisingly perky! — despite the hour so viciously wrenched from my grasp early Sunday morning (blast you Daylight Savings Time!).

    I also just finished my third cup of green tea, so now I’m like, whee!

  3. What’s your idea of a perfect Sunday?
  4. It starts with a great night’s sleep and easing awake slowly, as opposed to having an 18-pound cat use my tum as a springboard.

    Then, El Hub gives me a nice, long hug — and not one of those 5 second ones, either, that ends with a pat on the back. He’s a morning person and wakes up antsy and rearing to go, so he’s apt to pull away before I’ve met my hug quota.

    For breakfast, I have banana pancakes, an egg over easy, hash browns and a hot cup of coffee, and all of them just materialize out of thin air like manna from heaven, served while I’m still in bed, of course.

    After breakfast, I read something fun and light for about an hour or so, buzz through 5 miles on the treadmill, take a leisurely shower, and then take as much time as I want to apply my makeup and do my hair.

    Then, some brainless TV, a little more reading, maybe a movie and some good food.

    Tada! The perfect Sunday. 🙂

  5. Would you care to dance?
  6. Yes, please! Thank you for asking.

  7. If you were the star of your own reality TV show, what would the show be called?
  8. Either My So-Called Life As a Celebrity Cat Assistant, Tabs Takes Over, America’s Next Top Curmudgeon, Novato-licious, or Project Exhaustion.

    Really, the possibilities are endless.

  9. Heels or sneakers?
  10. Heels when I’m dining, shopping, or doing something social; sneakers when I’m jogging or exploring someplace new.

  11. Favorite shower tune?
  12. Isn’t It Ironic. Ever since I heard it on The Voice last week, that’s been my favorite tune to sing in the shower. Ironically, though, I don’t know the lyrics…so I just keep singing the same part over and over again.

    “Mr. Play It Safe… was afraid to fly.”

  13. Would you rather spend a quiet night at home or an exciting night on the town?
  14. I’ve become quite the homebody over the past few years, but I wouldn’t say no to a night on the town as long as I didn’t have to wear anything too binding, and I could still be home by midnight.

    And she inches ever closer to turning into Liz Lemon…

  15. Do you smile at strangers?
  16. I do, but only when I have food stuck in my teeth.

    Kidding! Yeah, I do.

  17. Something you’d like to do today?
  18. Finish everything on my to-do list by six.

  19. Weekly goals:
  20. To run five days this week, to give myself a good pedicure, and to spend at least 20 solid minutes playing with Tabs each and every day.

Hey, friend. 🙂 Happy Monday.

Oh! So I was listening to my iTunes on shuffle last night when Fleetwood Mac’s Say You Will started playing.

I haven’t heard that song in years…

I really started getting into it. Full-on chair dancing and everything.

Assuming you aren’t bopping too recklessly in your chair right now, do you have a minute to fill out the Monday Poll this morning?

  • 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 idea of a perfect Sunday?
3. Would you care to dance?
4. Reality TV show title?
5. Heels or sneakers?
6. Favorite shower tune?
7. A quiet night at home or an exciting night on the town?
8. Do you smile at strangers?
9. Something you’d like to do today?
10. Weekly goals:

Have a good week, ya hear?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Okay, so The Walking Dead last night — did you catch it?

Um…all I have to say is, OH, SNAP! DID THAT REALLY HAPPEN!?

There are 64 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun

Sundays with Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 182

March 11th, 2012 by Karen 16 Comments

Tabs for Benefit Cat Scratch Zap!

Okay, my boss walked in on me the other day when I was using the restroom.

Yup! I thought I was the only one in the office, so I guess I neglected to make sure the door was completely shut. So there I was, ya know, sitting down…concentrating. You know. And then I hear this scratching sound coming from the other side of the door.

Couple seconds later, the door pushes open a few inches and you-know-who pokes his little head in with an expression like, “Oh, hai!”

I’m completely mortified. My eyes must have doubled in size, and I’m too aghast to speak.

So in strolls Tabs, doopdadoo, and he has a seat on the floor directly in front of me, watching me like I’m reality television.

“Uh…” I say. “Private party here. You’re not invited.”

Apparently, my petting performance and/or gravy preparation that morning was subpar, and he wanted to get my attention.

Mission. Accomplished.

LOL! 🙂 Word to the wise: If you rent a room from your feline employer, make sure you always close the bathroom door.

Oh, before you go, you might want to check out the latest pics from Tabs’ portfolio of kitty modeling jobs. I think he had a pretty good week.

Tabs for Milani Fast Dry Fur Polish

Tabs for MAC Tigger & Tabs
[Continue reading…]

There are 16 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun Keywords: tabs

The Weekly Roundup: Posts You Might Have Missed

March 11th, 2012 by Karen 9 Comments

Makeup and Beauty Blog Weekly Roundup

Happy Sunday, friend. 🙂 If you live here in the States, I hope you remembered to spring forward.

Spring! Spring! Spring!

My in-laws are visiting this weekend, and we’re on our way out to brunch. Banana pancakes for everyone!

A few beauty posts that caught my eye…

  • Bobbi Brown’s new brow kit lets you customize your own brow shade — Cafe Makeup
  • Love the blues and corals in the new Art Deco summer collection — Makeup4all
  • NARS introduces the Artistry Sessions online video tutorials — Older Girl Beauty
  • Are you as busy as you think? — The Wall Street Journal
  • I found photographer Tom Hussey’s series of portraits called “Reflections” incredibly moving (use the arrows on the sides of the page to scroll through the pics) — Tom Hussey
  • 18 ways to inspire everyone around you — Marc and Angel Hack Life
  • Create your own custom makeup brushes with this DIY project — A Beautiful Mess
  • A minimal makeup look featuring a pink cheek flush — Lisa Eldridge
  • Just added to the to-try list: By Terry Mascara Terrybly — The Non-Blonde
  • Is it a crime to meow at the moon? — Cat Gossip

The makeup monsters are back again this week with another beastie, this one a nightmarish creature of dark makeup magic!

Balm Beholder

Makeup Monster: Balm BeholderDescription: It’s a cold, windy day, and your lips are chapped. You pause outside the mall to re-apply your favorite lip balm when you hear a low groan behind you. You whip around! Floating there before you is a hideous orb-like creature with a single unblinking eye, a huge maw with extremely chapped, raw lips, and smaller eyes attached to wriggling stalks, gah!
Frequency: Rare
Speed: Fast
Armor Class: 7 (flight makes them difficult to corner)
Special Attacks: Balm Beholders must consume moisturizing lip balms to survive. Any creature that makes eye contact for more than a second with the Beholder’s large eye is momentarily paralyzed by the monster’s stunning gaze attack, which the beholder uses to incapacitate victims while it steals their lip balm.
Special Defenses: None
Intelligence: Very
Alignment: Evil
Size: Medium (4′ diameter)

The Makeup and Beauty Blog Makeup Monsters

Makeup and Beauty Blog Weekly Roundup

Unisa Kami Wedge Shoe Height and Comfort From the Unisa Kami Wedge Shoe

Milani Spring 2012 Eyeshadows Get Runway Eyes With Milani’s New Spring 2012 Eyeshadows

MAC Chenman Face of the Day Just Another MAC Chenman Face of the Day

MAC and Marcel Wanders Collection My Fingerprints on the MAC & Marcel Wanders Collection

Milani Fast Dry Nail Lacquers Milani High Speed Fast Dry Nail Lacquers

Lancome Rouge in Love Lipsticks I’m Lovin’ the Bold Look of Lancôme’s Rouge in Love Lipsticks

NP Set Glam Set Vampires Won’t Need the NP Set Glam Set

Pixi Lip Tints Gah! There’s a Pixi in My Lip Tint!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

There are 9 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun Keywords: weeklyroundup

The Makeup Monster Manual: Vol. 1

March 10th, 2012 by Karen 24 Comments

Welcome, fearless reader! Within this ancient tome/blog post reside some of the most nefarious, unscrupulous, mischievous makeup monsters known to man and womankind.

As the author of this compendium, I release this knowledge unto you! — for I fear the creatures I have long chronicled are closing in on me…

Make haste! And use the research contained herewith to defend and protect yourself on your beauty adventures. 🙂

Primer Pest

Description: Primer Pests are an invasive species of toad rapidly spreading around the globe. Believed to be a mutation created in an underground cosmetics lab, they are attracted to makeup primer. Can’t resist it, actually.
Frequency: Uncommon but spreading
Speed: Fast
Armor Class: 7 (small and quick)
Special Attacks: Primer Pests inhabit bogs and marshes near urban areas and suburban strip malls — anywhere with makeup counters. One swat from their toady tongue turns makeup primer into a soppy sludge.
Special Defenses: None
Intelligence: Low
Alignment: Neutral
Size: Tiny (6″ tall)

Abominable Powder Punisher

Description: Abominable Powder Punishers are gargantuan, grossly confused and filthy beasts that perceive all powders as a threat. They believe that poofs of powder are actually swarms of tiny biting insects, and they swat furiously at them when exposed.
Frequency: Rare (thank goodness!)
Speed: Medium (see below)
Armor Class: 10+ (heavy fur acts as a form of padded armor)
Special Attacks: Incredibly fast swatting. When an Abominable Powder Punisher detects the presence of powder, or sees a poof of powder in the distance, it flies into an uncontrollable rage, swinging and swatting its huge clawed hands and roaring in a combination of fear and fury, “NoooOOOoOOoOO!!!”
Special Defenses: Berserker rage
Intelligence: Low
Alignment: Neutral
Size: Huge (15′ tall)

Stench Dragon

Description: Stench Dragons are a subcategory of dragons that spend much of their time stalking perfumeries and fragrance counters. Powerfully stinky, they tend to be aloof, solitary and self-centered. Their motto is, “It’s all about me.”
Frequency: Rare
Speed: Fast
Armor Class: 8
Special Attacks: Like a fine cheese, Stench Dragons become more powerfully pungent as they age. They are attracted to strong fragrances, which they attempt to overpower with their awful dragon breath.
Special Defenses: Fragrance resistance; aura of repulsive stench
Intelligence: Very
Alignment: Chaotic neutral (naughty)
Size: Medium (6′ long)

Liner Lamia

Description: Long, long ago, a powerful evil sorceress/former makeup artist created Liner Lamia to guard her makeup counter while she was away, but a small number of the mischievous creatures escaped! Tentacled gremlins with eye liners for arms, they really just like to mess up makeup.
Frequency: Rare
Speed: Fast
Armor Class: 7
Special Attacks: Liner Lamia prefer surprise attacks over frontal assaults, typically striking while their victims are distractedly applying their makeup — for instance, while driving.

They are deathly afraid of mirrors.
Special Defenses: Nil
Intelligence: Medium
Alignment: Chaotic neutral
Size: Small (3′ tall)

Bronzer Bugbear

Description: Bronzer Bugbears are huge, slathering ogres with a taste for bronzer. They consume it for the talc and silica, which they need to survive, and also like to roll around in it like elephants do with mud.
Bronzer Bugbears are able to sense the presence of bronzer within a 10-mile radius, but the exact mechanism by which this sense works remains a mystery (it’s not a sense of smell, since Bronzer Bugbears lack noses). Once within range of bronzer or a person wearing it, they attack! — using a special powder puff that all Bronzer Bugbears instinctively know how to construct. After collecting the bronzer, they retreat to their lairs to eat it in peace.
Frequency: Rare
Speed: Slow
Armor Class: 9
Special Defenses: Nil
Intelligence: Low
Alignment: Neutral
Size: Huge (12′ tall)

[Continue reading…]

There are 24 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun

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

March 10th, 2012 by Karen 475 Comments

  • WINNER: The giveaway is closed now, and the winner is Heather! Congratulations, Heather! 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

Rise and shine, morning glory! If you’re a frequent visitor to the blog, you know what that means (it’s giveaway time!).

But before we get to that, I want to wish you a wonderful weekend and thank you for stopping by. I appreciate your time, your friendship, and your patience, because yes, I know that some of you often think, “Gawd, this woman must be crazy. All she ever does is talk about her cat!!!” Thankfully, you’re also understanding. After all, we each have our quirks.

Today we’re less than two weeks from the official start of spring! I hope your winter ends with something nice.

Without further ado, now it’s giveaway time. 🙂

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, what’s your favorite lip product? How often do you wash your hair? What’s the last great movie you watched? Do you live in the Northern or the Southern Hemisphere? What was your favorite class in school? — 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/yUlPvw

  • The deadline to enter is Sunday, March 11, 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 Heather! Congratulations, Heather! If you entered but didn’t win this time around, keep trying, and click here to enter any ongoing giveaways before you jet. 🙂
There are 475 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Giveaways, Just For Fun Keywords: giveaway

Which Makeup and/or Beauty Products Will You Be Heartbroken to Finish?

March 9th, 2012 by Karen 35 Comments

mac naked honey hand and body cream

Eureka!

I thought my tube of MAC Naked Honey Hand and Body Cream (from 2009’s Naked Honey collection) had finally given up the ghost, aka “gone on to greener pastures,” but it looks like there are at least a few precious drops left inside.

I just love this stuff… 🙂

Love how super moisturizing it is, love the honeysuckle and freesia scent it leaves on my skin, love the pattern on the tube.

MAC’s Creations Hue fragrance in Naked Honey, also from the Naked Honey release, has almost the same scent, so I’ll be able to get my fix for it there, but I don’t find the fragrance anywhere near as satisfying as the cream.

To make my tube last as long as possible, I started rationing it when the tube got down near empty, allowing myself a few drops for my hands on Friday afternoons if/when I finished everything on my to-do list. At the rate I’m going, with what I think hope is still left in the tube, I might be able to stretch it out till June (fingers crossed!).

How about you and your collection? Which makeup and/or beauty products will you be heartbroken to finish?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

There are 35 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun

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Welcome to Makeup and Beauty Blog

Welcome to Makeup and Beauty Blog! My name is Karen, and I’m a freelance writer obsessed with makeup.

Makeup and Beauty Blog features daily product reviews, makeup tips and beauty news — like an interactive version of a monthly print magazine, except with occasional pictures of my cat.

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