Just For Fun

• The giveaway is now closed. Congrats, Sunday! Before you go, check the home page for ongoing giveaways.

Remember that Sex and the City episode when Carrie takes a dive on the runway at the fashion show? She had on jeweled underwear and a pair of sky high stilettos. Well, I had a nightmare where I did the same thing, except that I was wearing a beaded tie-dye bikini and really ugly clogs (?). Midair, as I fell ungracefully toward the folks sitting in the front row, I distinctly remember thinking, “Aww, hell… at least my eye makeup looks cute.”

I’ll just leave the swimsuit modeling to the professionals, like the ones strutting the runways at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week: Swim in Miami right now.

Have you been following any of the shows? The festivities, which focus on beach garb and swimwear, kicked off on Thursday and run through this weekend.

For the second year in a row, Make Up For Ever is sponsoring the makeup for the shows and making sure the models look fly on the catwalk. There’s been no shortage of Aqua Cream shadows this year, which, by the way, I love (here’s my review).

Aqua Creams made an appearance at last night’s Delores Cortes show, where the makeup artists banged out this smoldering greenish gold eye…

If you feel like giving it a try with your very own Make Up For Ever Aqua Cream Shadows (bikini and high heels are totally optional, LOL!), keep reading, boo!

Giveaway Time

To cheer Mercedes Benz Fashion Week: Swim, Make Up For Ever cooked up a fabulous prize package for y’all featuring FIVE of the Aqua Creams (a $110 value).

The Prize

One lucky lady (or gent) will win ALL of the following Aqua Cream Shadows:

One (1) Make Up For Ever Aqua Cream in Anthracite, a shimmery, silvery charcoal for eyes and cheeks ($22)
One (1) Make Up For Ever Aqua Cream in Steel, a shimmery, silvery gray for eyes and cheeks ($22)
One (1) Make Up For Ever Aqua Cream in Silver, a shimmery silver for eyes and cheeks ($22)
One (1) Make Up For Ever Aqua Cream in Snow, a shimmery white pearl for eyes and cheeks ($22)
One (1) Make Up For Ever Aqua Cream in Peach, a shimmery, peachy pink with golden glitter for lips and cheeks ($22)

Anthracite

Steel

Silver

Snow

Peach

How To Enter…

Entering is easy. There are two different ways, and you can do both of them for two chances to win.

1. First, you can enter by retweeting (RT) the following message:

   Follow @karenmbb and RT to win $110 in Make Up For Ever Aqua Creams http://bit.ly/a0ABjj

2. Second, enter by leaving a comment at the bottom of this post, a comment about anything at all — you could talk about why you like cream shadows, what you had for dinner, what you’re doing right now or maybe describe your favorite swim suit.
   

   My favorite swim suit? A green and white Roxy bikini I bought years ago in Hawaii. It fits me just right (keeps “the girls” on lockdown) and stays on no matter how many times I fall from my surfboard. Most importantly, it makes my booty look cute! Priorities, ya know.

• Oh, yeah. This giveaway IS also open to international folks and readers living overseas (YAY!); entrants must be at least 13 years of age or older at time of entry.

Recap…

1. Enter by leaving a comment at the bottom of this post, and don’t forget to use a valid email address so I can reach you if you win.
2. Retweet the following message on twitter:
   
   Follow @karenmbb and RT to win $110 in Make Up For Ever Aqua Creams http://bit.ly/a0ABjj

I’ll pick the winner at random from among the people who enter by 11:59 p.m. PST on Sunday, July 18.

Boa sorte!!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Have you also entered the NYX cosmetics/AMEX gift card giveaway (the $200 card’s good anywhere that takes American Express, i.e. Sephora, Macy’s, Ulta, etc.)? It’s worth $322 in prizes, so don’t miss out.

• The giveaway is now closed. Congrats, Sunday! Before you go, check the home page for ongoing giveaways.

• The giveaway is now closed, and the winner is being contacted. Before you go, check the home page for ongoing giveaways.

For turning 30, my parents threw me a birthday bash at a crowded drag queen karaoke bar in the South Bay. I wore a pink outfit, sported a jewel-encrusted tiara and wobbled across the stage singing songs in four-inch heels. When the queens, rocking fierce hair and makeup, dragged (ha!) me up on stage to harmonize We Are Family with them, I felt like a star. 🙂

I’ve always adored drag queens, so when the folks at Logo, the channel that airs the hit RuPaul’s Drag Race, offered to host today’s giveaway and share deets about their new RuPaul show (RuPaul’s Drag U) premiering July 19, I jumped for joy (not in heels, though)!

Bust out your most glittery shadow because…

At RuPaul’s Drag U, class is in session!

In the show, RuPaul serves as the Dean of Drag at Drag U, guiding women (the kind who, um, don’t have to tuck) through extreme makeup, beauty and confidence transformations — drag queen style.

The students are everyday women looking for a little help with their style and confidence (false lashes, anyone?).

At the start of the show, RuPaul inputs each student’s info into the Dragulator (cutting-edge technology, LOL!), which assigns them drag names and gives a glimpse of each woman’s potential.

With the help of Drag Race alumni, the ladies learn how to get in touch with their softer sides and unleash their inner divas! The pressure’s on, too, because each show ends with the women doing a musical number in front of a live audience of friends and family.

There can be only one — valedictorian. One of the ladies in each episode is chosen as valedictorian of her class, but every one leaves Drag U a lil’ more confident, sassy and knowledgeable about makeup and beauty.

Drag U and you

Catch Drag U on the Logo channel starting July 19 at 9 p.m. (check your local listings). You can also follow Drag U on Facebook and take the Dragulator out for a spin.

I have been Dragulated!!

Time for the giveaway!

To kick off the show, the folks at Logo put together a fantastic prize package worth $322.

The prize

One lucky lady (or gent) will win ALL of the following:

One (1) $200 American Express Gift Card!
One (1) copy of Workin It!: RuPaul’s Guide to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Style ($20)
One (1) NYX Body Glitter Gel ($6)
One (1) NYX Blotting Paper ($3.50)
One (1) NYX Cream Blush in Glow ($6.50)
One (1) NYX Concealer Jar in Lavender ($5.50)
One (1) NYX Concealer Magic Wand in Green ($5.50)
One (1) NYX Doll Eye Mascara Long Lash in Extreme Black($9)
One (1) NYX Fabulous Lashes ($4.50)
One (1) NYX The Caribbean Collection 5 Color Palette in I Dream of St. John ($8.75)
One (1) NYX The Caribbean Collection 5 Color Palette in I Dream of St. Lucia ($8.75)
One (1) NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk ($4)
One (1) NYX Mega Shine Lip Gloss in French Kiss ($5.50)
One (1) NYX Lip Gloss Palette in The Naturals ($8)
One (1) NYX Studio Liquid Liner in Extreme Purple ($4.50)
One (1) NYX Slim Eye Pencil in Black ($3.50)
One (1) NYX Slim Lip Pencil in Natural ($3.50)
One (1) NYX Super Skinny Eye Marker in Carbon Black ($9)
One (1) NYX Chrome Eye Shadow ($6)

How to enter…

Entering is easy. There are two different ways, and you can do both of them for two chances to win.

1. First, you can enter by retweeting (RT) the following message:

   RT @karenmbb: RT to win a NYX Cosmetics prize pack and a $200 gift card (a $322 Value) http://bit.ly/93t3wM Rules: http://logo.to/DUrules

2. Second, enter by leaving a comment at the bottom of this post, a comment about anything at all — tell me how you unleash your inner drag queen, your favorite karaoke song or why you love bold, drag queen-worthy makeup.
   

   How do I unleash my inner drag queen? I loves me some fierce drag queen lashes; the bigger and bolder the better! I pile on volumizing and thickening mascara (sometimes four or even five coats, yikes!), and when I’m in the mood, I’ll throw on some falsies to up the drama even more.

• Sorry, international babes, the folks at Logo requested that this giveaway be limited to legal residents of the U.S. and the District of Columbia; entrants must be at least 13 years of age or older at time of entry. For full giveaway rules, see here.

Recap…

1. Enter by leaving a comment at the bottom of this post, and don’t forget to use a valid email address so I can reach you if you win.
2. Retweet the following message on twitter:
   
   RT @karenmbb: RT to win a NYX Cosmetics prize pack and a $200 gift card (a $322 Value) http://bit.ly/93t3wM Rules: http://logo.to/DUrules

I’ll pick the winner at random from among the people who enter by 11:59 p.m. PST on Tuesday, July 20.

Sretno!!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

• The giveaway is now closed, and the winner is being contacted. Before you go, check the home page for ongoing giveaways.

• The giveaway is now closed, and the winner is being contacted. Before you go, check the home page for ongoing giveaways.

If your eyes naturally sparkle like a Twilight vampire’s bare chest in direct sunlight, then you’re a lucky gal. Some of us, however, could use a little help in the bedazzlement department.

Glamour all who gaze upon your glistening eyes with Bobbi Brown’s Denim & Rose collection.

It’s giveaway time!

THE PRIZE

(Winner randomly selected)

One (1) pan of Bobbi Brown Sparkle Eye Shadow in Denim. This limited edition blue glitter shadow comes in a creamy translucent base for maximum sparkle without any pesky glitter fallout (a $24 value).

TO ENTER

Just answer the following in the comments (no worries; there are no right or wrong answers):

“How do you feel about denim? And dish about your favorite denim duds, be they jeans, jacket or skirt (or anything else).”

My answer: I lurve denim. Last month I treated myself to a birthday gift of J Brand 811 skinny stretch jeans, which I wear so often it’s like they’re surgically attached to my bottom. They’re made with just enough stretchy material to be both comfy AND stiff — stiff enough to keep my jiggly parts in place. I’m convinced they make me look 10 pounds lighter…

RULES

The giveaway is open to US and international readers. Please, one entry per person, and don’t forget to leave a valid email address in the comment form so I can reach you if you’ve won.

I’ll choose the winner at random from the entries received by 11:59 p.m. PST on Wednesday, July 14, 2010.

Good luck!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

• The giveaway is now closed, and the winner is being contacted. Before you go, check the home page for ongoing giveaways.

1. Mood:

Good, but after this cup of tea I should feel great, whee!

2. When is your bed time, and when do you get up?

Monday through Thursday I’m in bed anywhere between 10 and midnight; Fridays and Saturdays I’ll stay up a little later. As for mornings, every one except Sunday, which is my day to sleep late (’tis glorious!), the alarm goes off bright and early at 6:30.

3. What are you most looking forward to this week?

Dinner in San Francisco with my friends Jen and Cindy, but that’s a ways away on Saturday. We’re having Peruvian food, yum!

4. If you have any roommates, what are they like? Do you guys get along?

I live with El Hub the boy, Tabs the cat and Sushi the fish (a betta). El Hub’s pretty easy to live with — Tabs, not so much. He’s a total diva. Sushi, El Hub’s ward, is hella aggro. He’s like that roommate you lived with but hoped you’d never see.

5. Do you make your bed every morning?

Most of the time, and if I don’t it bugs me for the rest of the day.

6. What did you do last weekend?

On Saturday I visited the Legion of Honor museum in SF to check out an exhibit on the Impressionists. That reminds me — the tickets were on sale, 30% off through the TravelZoo weekly mailing list. I highly recommend subscribing. Best travel and entertainment deals (even sporting events) I’ve ever used.

Then on Sunday I spent a couple of hours writing and blogging before watching Predators in the afternoon.

7. Do you ever let dishes sit in the sink for more than a day?

I do. I try to rinse them off right away though.

8. Favorite place for lunch?

It costs a king’s ransom, but I love the salad bar at Whole Foods. Everything’s always so fresh, and they have a huge selection of things most salad bars don’t like hummus, sushi and edamame. I swear my body goes “Ahhh” after every visit.

9. Outfit:

Skinny jeans that stretch a bit (I practically live in ’em) and a white tank top with braided rope detailing on the straps.

10. Weekly goals:

To run at least three miles at least four times this week, to prepare two vegetarian dinners, to spend a full 20 minutes every day playing catch-up with my email.

Good mornin’, ladies. 🙂 I’m sitting here at my desk sipping my morning tea and thinking about this weird dream I had last night…

I was back in high school, graduation day, and for some reason I didn’t have a cap and gown for the ceremony. When I found a gown at the last minute (no cap, though), it was thoroughly wrinkled.

Instead of just throwing it on and sprinting to my seat, I frantically tried to iron it first in the school counselor’s office. Moments before the MC was set to call my name on the stage, the alarm shook me awake!

Does anyone here study dreams? I’d love to hear your insights into this one. So weird…

Well, here we are at the beginning of another week together. 🙂 To complete the Monday Poll (it helps get your neurons firing), just copy the list below, and paste it with your answers scribbled into the comments.

1. Mood:
2. When is your bed time, and when do you get up?
3. What are you most looking forward to this week?
4. If you have any roommates, what are they like? Do you guys get along?
5. Do you make your bed every morning?
6. What did you do last weekend?
7. Do you ever let dishes sit in the sink for more than a day?
8. Favorite place for lunch?
9. Outfit:
10. Weekly goals:

Say it with me, okay? — “I WILL have a great week.”

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen