Just For Fun

Dance Like No One’s Watching in the Open Thread

March 28th, 2010 by Karen 193 Comments

Heya, ladies. I had a lot of fun chatting with y’all in last week’s Open Thread, and I’d really like to do it again.

I’m just about to have lunch so this’ll be fun. Like last time, you can talk about anything you want — ask (or answer) beauty (or non-beauty) questions, talk about your week, post links to cool sites/videos, describe your pet’s penchant for destroying your makeup brushes in painstaking detail (I’m listening!) or whatever else is on your mind.

To help break the ice, here are two questions I’ve been asked a lot lately:

Where’d I get my necklace?

You might’ve noticed I lurve this double-stranded gold necklace A LOT. I wish I could say it’s from a cool indy designer on Etsy, hand made for me, but, uh, it’s not. 🙂 I picked it up on clearance three years ago in the costume jewelry section at Macy’s. Unfortunately, I don’t remember the designer’s name — I actually think it might’ve been the Macy’s house brand.

What cameras do you use?

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This Week’s Top Posts

March 28th, 2010 by Karen 6 Comments

How’s it going out there? What have you guys been up to this weekend? Something fun I hope. Tabs, El Hub and I are just chugging along and enjoying the arrival of spring, finally! We’re such weather lightweights out here, LOL! I feel terrible for the folks on the East Coast still digging themselves out from under all that snow. Damn, I hope spring treats them well because this of all years they deserve it.

Before I post the open thread today I’m spending some time practicing with my cameras. You’d be amazed to know how much time I spend on photography. It’s like my life is a quest to figure out how to take the perfect picture. Straight up, photography is NOT easy, and there is no magic bullet, no magic number of megapixels that suddenly produces a great shot, but if I were forced to choose between 1) the best DSLR on the market with a $2,000 pro lens in bad lighting or 2) a $70 Canon PowerShot point-n-shoot camera outdoors on a sunny day — hands down, I’d go with the cheap camera with good lighting every time.

Anywho, we made it through another week together. 🙂 MAC Art Supplies sure looks pretty. Can’t wait to take a closer look at the collection over the next few days…

What was your favorite new collection or product of the week? Do you have one? That’s a tough one, but I’ll go with Illamasqua’s Pastel Nails. I think that yellow’s just divine.

A Little Bit of Rock N’ Roll with MAC Art Supplies

“Fittingly, the first song on my iPod’s workout playlist today was Motley Crue’s Home Sweet Home, and it FIRED ME UP! — so much so that I felt like rock n’ rolling into some pink and purple makeup for my face of the day…”

More Summery Colors and Shimmery Fun from Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess

“With highly saturated purples, bronzes, teals and gold, Estee Lauder’s Bronze Goddess summer collection salutes makeup mavens who love intense, rich color by thoroughly bringing on the bling.”

I’m Dreaming of Dolce and Gabbana Midnight Bloom

“I had a dream once where I was wandering through a beautiful tropical garden at night … Dolce & Gabbana’s Midnight Bloom summer makeup collection would have fit right in.”

Blues and Greens with MAC Art Supplies and MAC Trip

“Because a little color always helps, I reached for the MAC Trip Cool Eyes Palette and a few things from MAC Art Supplies, as well as Benefit’s permanent collection and a Lancome mascara. In a little while I was feeling 100% better and kinda like this…”

Vetting MAC Art Supplies Pro Longwear Lipstain Markers

“Here are seven of the nine colors. I’m curious to hear what you think. I like how rich the reds and browns are, but I think a lot of ’em look alike on my lips, maybe due to my pigmented pucker.”

Branch Out This Spring With Sonia Kashuk’s Bamboo Brushes

“New for spring, Sonia crafted these limited-edition eye, face and cheek brushes from eco-friendly bamboo, cork and a mix of natural and synthetic fibers. There’s something kind of branch-y and natural about them, like, if the Swiss Family Robinson wanted to make elegant makeup brushes, these are what they’d look like, ha!”

I’m Sweet on Illamasqua Pastel Nails

“Memories of Easter mornings flooded back today when I swatched two of the four colors from Illamasqua’s Pastel Nails collection for spring. The colors have been available through illamasqua.com for a while, but they arrive at US Sephora stores this May ($14 each).”

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

You Still Have Time to Enter the Gwen Stefani Makeup Challenge

March 27th, 2010 by Karen 3 Comments

Y’all are blowing me away with your Gwen looks! Great jobs all around. 🙂

If you haven’t entered yet, you still have time to submit your look. Remember, it’s not a lookalike contest; the challenge is just to channel one of Gwen’s styles over the years. One of you will win Gwen’s signed set of Harajuku Lovers Sunshine Cuties, but don’t delay. The deadline’s this Monday night.

Legal stuff: Must be 18 years of age or older and a valid resident of the United States; deadline to enter is Monday, March 29, 11:59PM PST; one entry per person; void where prohibited by law.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Ah… What a great day, ladies! It was nice and sunny here, so I went for a hike with my camera. So beautiful! The wildflowers are blooming, and everything’s just so alive (including my allergies!).

I hope you had a good day today. Did you do anything fun? Right now I’m eating an apple for my late-night snack and watching Project Runway online.

Let Loose with a Splash of Color

March 27th, 2010 by Karen 6 Comments

(click the tiny arrows above)

Neutrals are like the Old Faithfuls of makeup. I love ’em, but sometimes they can get a little boring. If you’re looking for fresh ideas, why not try a splash of color?

Sometimes all it takes is a peep at the yellow nail polish on your toes or bright red lips looking back at you in the mirror to brighten your day.

Here are a few ideas to put a little color in your step. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Saturday Surfing

March 27th, 2010 by Karen 18 Comments

What’s shakin’, turkey bacon? Are you up for a little surfing today? Tabs is napping, but I’m sufficiently caffeinated and ready to roll, WHEEEE! 🙂

Random Bright Spots

A new Q&A with makeup artist Carmindy — Temptalia
Do Chanel’s Summer 2010 polishes live up to the hype? — All Lacquered Up
Confused about luminizer? Here’s how (and why) they’re worth a try — Bella Sugar
Would your dude wear these BB Couture nail polishes? — Vampy Varnish
Twitter helps you choose your own adventure! — Jonah Peretti
What really goes down at a Benefit Power Primer Party — The Secret Life of a Benefit Gal
4 stylish spring jackets and how to wear them — College Fashion
Lina swatches a few of Dolce & Gabbana’s Spring Makeup colors — The Beauty Look Book
An orange NARS Multiple? I’m all over that — Sugar Social
Have you heard of BlackBeach nail polish? — We Heart This
I dig the packaging for Lipstick Queen (sucker for large typography) — Face Candy

New in Beauty

YAY! Nordie’s finally has the Addicted to Dior Luggage Tags ($60) online
Um… The Smoothing Lacquer Lip Polish ($30) has a “spinning applicator” that’s supposed to mimic how a makeup artist works
I think might have to pick up Murad’s Acne & Wrinkle Reducer ($58)
Bliss says their Pore-fector Gaget Kit ($185) is the next best thing to an at-home esthetician
LOVE the bottle for Viktor & Rolf’s limited-edition Flowerbomb La Vie En Rose ($80)
Cake’s Satin Sugar Powder ($16) refreshes your hair AND your bod
Yves Saint Laurent reformulated their Dessin du Regard Eye Pencils ($28) by adding richer pigments
Aerie, an American Eagle brand, just launched a line of makeup for eyes and lips called Aerie Color ($8-15)
Buy $50 in LORAC online and get a complimentary Mini Mocktail Set of six glosses (free shipping!)
Lancome’s Bronze Riviera summer collection includes glowy shades of bronze and a playful POP of pink

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Do You Have a Favorite Place To Do Your Makeup?

March 25th, 2010 by Karen 82 Comments

Classy…

I love the look of fancy vanities and dressing tables, but truth be told I prefer to park my booty on the floor in my office upstairs (aka Tabs’ room). There’s a big mirror propped up against an old desk beside which I keep my brushes and the products I’m currently using.

Comfy…

Do you have a favorite place to do your makeup? Is it in the bathroom? Bedroom? Or on the train to work? 🙂

Here’s an idea for simple, affordable makeup storage perfectly suited for bedroom floors…

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Are you gonna submit your Gwen Stafani look in the Gwen Stefani Makeup Challenge (deadline Mon., March 29)? The winner will go home with all 5 Harajuku Lovers Sunshine Cuties fragrances (autographed by Gwen!). See here for the full details.

The Gwen Stefani Makeup Challenge! Enter to Win an Autographed Set of Harajuku Lovers Sunshine Cuties Fragrances

March 22nd, 2010 by Karen 36 Comments

You guys probably already know this, but I’m a huge, HUGE Gwen Stefani fan.

The first time I saw her was in the “Just a Girl” video back before No Doubt really hit it big… It was on MTV at about 2 in the morning, and I remember thinking, “Um, this girl’s gonna be a star.”

I grew up listening to a lotta hip hop, but No Doubt’s spin on ska/punk (and Gwen’s style and energy) opened a door to a whole new world of music for me.

So when I got an email from the folks behind Harajuku Lovers offering to give one Makeup and Beauty Blog reader an autographed (by Gwen herself) set of the new Harajuku Lovers Sunshine Cuties fragrances (a $150 value), I (to put it mildly) LOST MY SH*T!

The five limited-edition bottles are almost too cute for words. Love, Angel, Music, Baby and G look like they’re ready for summer in their cutie-pie bikini beach wear (they even got their nails did, aww!).

Making scents…

G: A blend of coconut, apple, mandarin, freesia and sandalwood
Love: A sensual floral with bergamot (a citrus fruit), peach, jasmine and musk
Lil’ Angel: A fruity floral with raspberry, pineapple rose and amber
Music: A delicate floral with clementine, pear, sweet pea and vanilla
Baby: A powdery scent with freesia, rose, musk and violet

And, HOLLA! Gwen will have touched them. 🙂

The MBB Gwen Stefani Makeup Challenge

I hope you’re ready, because today’s prize involves a challenge.
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Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Mar. 22

March 22nd, 2010 by Karen 94 Comments

I wonder what kind of flowers these are…

Mood:

Pretty darn good, despite having to get up at the buttcrack of dawn.

Are you a hat person?

Totally. They’re great for keeping my head warm when it’s cold and for hiding unruly curls. 🙂

What do you wish you had more time for?

Right now — exercise, sleeping and generally lazying about on the couch.

What was the last book you couldn’t put down?

The Time Traveler’s Wife. I thought it started off a little slow, but by a hundred pages in I was hooked!

Eyes/lips/cheeks:

Still deciding, but I think I might do either something with Dolce & Gabbana Midnight Bloom or MAC Art Supplies.

Crocs (the shoes, not the animal) — yay or nay?

Nay!

What’s one of your strengths?

I think I have a great memory for details.

What’s one of your favorite time-saving beauty tricks?

Going to bed with damp hair… It saves from having to blow dry and gives my mane mad volume in the morning.

Outfit:

Dark boot cut stretchy jeans, a pink tank top and a brown long sleeve henley

Weekly goals:

Just one thing this week because it’s THAT crucial. I need to straighten up my workspace. It’s a complete and total mess!

Happy Monday, ladies, and good morning to ya. 🙂

The Tabby Alarm Clock got me up a little earlier than scheduled this morning. Lately he’s been into climbing all over me like I’m some kind of kitty jungle gym. I think I’m going to require an extra cup of tea today, but I’ll “get there” eventually!

Before you jet, can you take a minute to say hi? Just copy the list, and pop it with your answers in the comments.

Le list

1. Mood:
2. Are you a hat person?
3. What do you wish you had more time for?
4. What was the last book you couldn’t put down?
5. Eyes/lips/cheeks:
6. Crocs — yay or nay?
7. What’s one of your strengths?
8. What’s one of your favorite time-saving beauty tricks?
9. Outfit:
10. Weekly goals:

I hope we all have a good week, one that’s filled with fun, productivity and full of welcome surprises. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen