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Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 686

November 14th, 2021 by Karen 2 Comments

When we think about the icons of industry, the paragons of industrialization, one name frequently gets thrown around: Henry Ford. He revolutionized the world of mass production with his conveyor belt assembly line.

Well, that’s all well and good, but in the feline world, there’s only one captain of industry, and it was Tabs. He took feline fashion manufacturing into the twenty-first century, increasing production through his many technological developments from small sewing shops producing a few outfits per day to large-scale automated factories producing thousands of pieces of cat apparel per hour, all of them of impeccable quality.

Some cats and people say it all started with the world-famous fall feline scarf you see here…

It was with this scarf that Tabs ramped up his production facilities from a few units day up into the thousands, and by November of 2015 cats in every town across America and around the world were rocking it.

Rosie

Since Rosie has taken over as Chief Feline Officer of Tabs the Cat Industries, LLC, she’s carrying on that legacy. Cats everywhere can head down to their local Petco or Nordstrom to get one of their own — all around the world.

Like Tim Cook after Steve Jobs, Rosie is focused on increasing efficiency and scaling up, and since she’s taken over, the company has tripled earnings!

[Continue reading…]

Saturday Surfing, Nov. 13, 2021!

November 13th, 2021 by Karen 3 Comments

Good morning and happy Saturday! 🤗🍰😸💃 I rarely wear makeup on the weekends anymore, but I’m getting my COVID booster later today, so eyeshadow, eyeliner and lipstick, HERE I COME! Special days call for at least a little makeup.

These pieces are from Revlon, and they’re model Ashley Graham’s favorites for the holidays:

Revlon Super Lustrous Lisptick in Bare It All ($8.99) — This is just one of 91 (!) shades from this lipstick line, which includes cream and pearl finishes.
Revlon ColorStay Longwear Lip Liner in Nude ($8.99) — A creamy, twist-up lip liner with a build in sharpener designed to stay on lips without feather or smudging.
Revlon So Fierce! Vinyl Eyeliner in Midnight Mystery ($8.99) — This high-pigment gel liner is waterproof, smudge-proof and has a glossy finish.
Revlon ColorStay Eyeliners in Brown and Teal ($8.40) — Long-wearing liners that glide on! They’re also waterproof, too.
Revlon So Fierce! Prismatic Eyeshadow Palette in Fully Loaded ($10.99) — These iridescent shadow glide across skin with their soft, cushiony texture.
Revlon So Fierce! Big Bad Lash Mascara in Blackest Black ($9.49) — A volumizing formula for bold fringe.
Revlon SkinLights Prismatic Highlighter in Twilight Gleam ($11.99) — This buildable highlighter can be worn sheer or beaming bright.
Revlon PhotoReady Rose Glow Face Mist ($13.99) — A hydrating priming mist that prep your face for makeup.

See anything you like?

This week’s reading

Meet my new favorite makeup artist — Raoúl Alejandre.
“I still wear makeup but lay bricks for a living.”
Do celebrities really know what’s best when it comes to makeup and skincare?
Allegedly, these perfumes will make you more creative.
If I ever make it to Kansas City, I’ll be sure to visit this perfume shop called This Is For Strange Women.
Don’t freak, but your cat is tracking your movements… 😼
La Perla lingerie has a new line of lipstick.
Beauty industry folks say these will be the big skincare trends for 2022.
Will fermented rice water help your hair?
How Beautyblender reinvented the makeup sponge.

I really wanna conquer pie.

Don’t you just love learning about color theory?

Very insightful.

Yes, please.

Heck yeah, I’m watching this.

My favorite cat lady hairstylist.

Drop that knowledge, queen.

Again, drop that knowledge!

Yum.

What are you up to today? My parents are coming over later with a bounty of persimmons, and I can’t wait! I love fall fruit, especially persimmons.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

This or That: The Friday Fun Edition!

November 12th, 2021 by Karen 15 Comments

How to play

Pick one or the other for each of the questions below, and copy/paste your answers in the comments. Can’t wait to see your picks! Mine are down below.

This or That: The Friday Fun Edition!

Face mask or hair mask?

Lip oil or lip mask?

Flat iron or curling iron?

Try a new beauty brand or stick with what you know?

What’s more essential: eye cream or perfume?

Silk pillowcase: yes or no?

Pick one: eyelash extensions or a lash lift?

Brow microblading: yes or no?

Shiny metallic or sparkly glitter?

Berry or burgundy lipstick?

Wide-tooth comb or a paddle brush?

Body wash: save or splurge?

Long, pointy nails: yes or no?

Face mask or hair mask?

Hair mask, because my mane is dry!

Lip oil or lip mask?

Lip mask, please.

Flat iron or curling iron?

Curling iron! Flat irons are too much of a struggle.

Try a new beauty brand or stick with what you know?

Try something new, why not?

What’s more essential: eye cream or perfume?

Perfume does more for my soul. Also, I’m at the point where eye cream isn’t enough to do any actual heavy beauty lifting, ha ha ha! I’m going need something stronger than hope in a jar.

Silk pillowcase: yes or no?

Yes, ma’am!

Pick one: eyelash extensions or a lash lift?

Seriously, neither. The less I mess with my lashes, the better off I seem to be. If I had to pick one, though, then the lash lift.

Brow microblading: yes or no?

Nah!

Shiny metallic or sparkly glitter?

Sparkly glitter.

Berry or burgundy lipstick?

Berry, with a matte finish.

Wide-tooth comb or a paddle brush?

I’ll take the comb so I can use it to rake conditioner through my hair while I’m in the shower.

Body wash: save or splurge?

Save, babe. I’d rather use the funds for perfume, LOL!

Long, pointy nails: yes or no?

No thank you!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. TGIF!

A Bouquet of Rose Perfumes

November 11th, 2021 by Karen 15 Comments

You guys, I’ve been reading and rereading these descriptions for these rose scented perfumes you recommended the other day, and I’m at the point now where I can practically smell each one.

I’ve yet to try an Acqua di Parma perfume, and their Rosa Nobile Eau de Parfum sounds gorgeous.

Years ago when I visited Milan for fashion week, I remember using Acqua di Parma products in the hotel where I stayed and loving the depth, and even just the bar of soap, so my spider senses are tingling. I would LOVE this.

I like the simplicity of the curved bottle, and I especially love the pink scripty type used for the words, “Rose Nobile.” I know! Font nerd moment. But wait, listen to the description…

Rose Nobile Eau de Parfum is a tribute to the rose, the queen of flowers. Its soft, vibrant scent opens with notes of Sicilian mandarin, Calabrian bergamot and pepper. The heart is intense and velvety with gorgeous florals that move into final crescendo of dry, warm scents, celebrating the beauty of innate feminine charm.

Notes:

Top: Sicilian mandarin, Calabrian bergamot, pepper.

Middle: peony, violet, lily of the valley, centifolia rose.

Base: cedarwood, ambergris, musk.

— nordstrom.com

UGH. Am I really going to order this blindly from the Sephora sale? I’m very tempted… I’ve always been a fan of Italian scents, and this one sounds like the perfect mix of bright notes and roses with a warm, cozy base. 🤗

Also up for consideration is this beautiful bottle of Miss Dior Rose N’ Roses…

Miss Dior Rose N’Roses, the eau de toilette whose trail incarnates the floral abundance of fields of roses in Grasse.

The freshness of an armful of fresh, colorful petals, the vivifying energy of citrusy dew: Miss Dior Rose N’Roses is a sparkling floral fragrance, a profusion of Grasse Roses refreshed by a Bergamot zest and heightened by the intensity of a White Musk note.

The vibrant Geranium essence refines Miss Dior Rose N’Roses Eau de Toilette with its lemony aromas to faithfully recreate the irresistible scent of an endless field of flowers: a bright pink hue becomes a fragrance that takes hold of you and never lets go.

— dior.com

Doesn’t this sound so sparkling and fresh? I feel like it might be better suited as a spring scent, though.

Last, but not least, Mon Paris Eau de Parfum by YSL.

Mon Paris Eau de Parfum is a sweet floral women’s fragrance. Sweet notes of red berries are softened by datura flower and anchored by the woody scent of white musk blended beautifully together with patchouli to create a women’s perfume that is romantic in every way.

–yslbeauty.com

This one sounds really feminine but potentially too sweet. I’m intrigued by the fact that it’s by YSL, though, because my very first bottle of perfume was Paris by YSL, so ya know… nostalgia!

I feel like rose perfumes are something people either love or…don’t love. What’s your stance? I’m a fan, although I prefer rose scents with some depth and complexity; otherwise I get overwhelmed by dominant rose notes.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Food-Related Things, Beauty and Otherwise: dpHue Hair Products, Chocolate Hummus and PIE!

November 10th, 2021 by Karen 8 Comments

Hey, babe. Talking about food today, with a little bit of food-related beauty, of course, because you’ll always and forever be my virtual sister — but without the sibling rivalry, hahaha! –across the keyboard in all things makeup, hair, nail polish and perfume.

I just started using a couple products from dpHuE, a hair care line known for their star ingredient, apple cider vinegar. They make shampoos, conditioners and stylers for all hair types with products available at Ulta and Sephora ranging from $26-$57.

My hair is wavy on dry side, and my color is naturally dark brownish black peppered with gray. I just started using the Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse to shampoo and the Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Mask as a conditioner.

You might be thinking, “Eww! That sounds like it could be potentially funky smelling,” and yes, you are correct. Their ACV shampoo definitely smells vinegary, but trust me on this, you won’t be walking around smelling like a side salad doused in vinaigrette. Once it rinses out, you don’t really smell it, and if you follow up with the hair mask, your mane will not only smell like a bottle of expensive perfume, but those strands will feel so damn silky you won’t even know what to do with yourself. Because, truth be told, I didn’t. I wondered for a moment if my consciousness had been uploaded into a different body in the Matrix because 1) I’m a sci-fi nerd like that, 2) my hair NEVER feels this soft after using just shampoo and conditioner. I always have to layer an additional leave-in conditioners or hair oils, always. But with just these two products, it was crazy soft.

FYI, the Hair Rinse isn’t like a traditional shampoo because there’s no foam. Still, my scalp and my strands felt surprisingly clean for shampoo that didn’t have any foam or bubbles.

How to use the hair rise, step by step

Both the rinse and mask are made for all hair types, and I think you’ll love it if your hair is dyed, going gray or dry too, or if you work out a lot, or if you just like to wash your hair everyday. I am full-on obsessed and want to try the Hair Gloss, the Apple Cider Vinegar Leave-In Hair Therapy spray and the Color Fresh Oil Therapy now.

Both items are on the pricey side, but know that a little goes a long way. If you’re looking for soft, bouncy hair that feels clean and refreshed but not weighed down by product, look into them ASAP!

OK, while we’re on the subject of food, I tried this Chocolate Hummus from Trader Joe’s for the first time ever, and it is absolutely delightful.

I put off trying it for the longest time because I was kinda grossed out by the idea of sweet hummus, but it doesn’t taste like hummus at all. It’s more like a pulverized, mushed up brownie in a dip, and it’s especially yummy with sliced fruit (Honeycrisp apples for the win) or dried banana chips. Try it!

If you were around earlier this week, I hope you got a chance to check out the comments in the Monday Poll and 5 Things I’ve Been Loving Lately posts because there was a LOT of really great information about making pies from scratch, along with a couple of recipes for pecan bars (I’m so intrigued). Thanks, gals, for always coming through with the baking advice! Now I’m feeling confident enough to tackle pie again.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

5 Things I’ve Been Loving Lately

November 9th, 2021 by Karen 22 Comments

1. All things Jane Iredale

Love the colors and textures! I’ve been into very wearable makeup lately, and this brand has been my jam (as have Ilia and Laura Mercier).

jane iredale naturally glam — Jane Iredale Naturally Glam Eye Shadow Kit — a fave!

2. Pecan Pie

I swore I wouldn’t attempt to make a pie this year…but I’m a little obsessed with the idea of making a pecan pie from scratch.

trader joes pecan pie in a jar — Remember this Pecan Pie in a Jar from Trader Joe’s?

3. Roses

I mean, I’ve always loved them…but I have been really fixated on roses lately, especially the big, blooming kind you see in gardens… Maybe that’s a sign I need a new perfume with rose notes? If you have one to recommend, I’m all ears. 🌽

perfect-rose-you are going to make it — I think you’re wonderful.

4. The Jo Malone London Cologne Collection Set

Speaking of perfume, please talk me out of this holiday sampler set. I don’t need it, but REALLY want it.

5. Love Harder

A super cheesy and totally predictable holiday romcom, but you know what? I still enjoyed it! 😅

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 702

November 8th, 2021 by Karen 38 Comments

So…what is the Monday Poll?

Excellent question! It isn’t, contrary to its name, an actual poll, like with little clicky buttons. It’s just a list of more or less random questions I’ve been posting on this blog every Monday morning for the past quadrillion years (since 2007).

1. What are your pieces of everyday jewelry?

My wedding and engagement rings, and a pair of dainty gold dangling earrings that El Hub gave me for Christmas eons ago. I like how the earring clasps feel super secure (so I’m less likely to lose them), and how lightweight they feel. I can’t do heavy jewelry anymore! If I feel any weight at all on my ears or around my neck or wrists, it’s just not happening.

2. Have you ever made a pie from scratch?

Oh my gosh, yes. I’ve tried several times and each and every outcome was disastrous. I’m a decently competent baker, so I don’t know why pie eludes me. Maybe I just haven’t found the right recipe yet?

3. Are you trying a new beauty products this week?

Yes! I’ve got an Ilia lipstick on deck, some hair products by dpHue, skin care from REN and a few bits and bobs from Jane Iredale (my newest obsession).

4. Have you ever painted someone else’s toes?

I have! Connor enjoys the occasional pedicure, and many moons ago, I painted El Hub’s toes in this post.

5. What’s one thing you love about where you live?

The abundance of wild animals. Everyday I see something interesting — birds, deer, turkeys!

6. Socks or no socks?

Socks, because my feet are always cold, but if I could get away with not wearing socks, I’d ditch them in a heartbeat because my sock drawer stresses me out.

7. What eyeliner colors do you wear the most?

Black and brown lately. I also go through phases where I’m into plum and gunmetal gray.

8. Did you ever collect stickers?

Heck, yeah! My sticker collection was my pride and joy in elementary school, especially my collection of scratch-and-sniff stickers.

9. Which one would you rather wear: a fancy dress or a fancy tuxedo?

Fancy dress, please. The most elaborate one you can find, ideally with pockets.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Here are the questions to copy/paste with your answers in a comment. Talk to ya soon.

1. What are your pieces of everyday jewelry?
2. Have you ever made a pie from scratch?
3. Are you trying a new beauty products this week?
4. Have you ever painted someone else’s toes?
5. What’s one thing you love about where you live?
6. Socks or no socks?
7. What eyeliner colors do you wear the most?
8. Did you ever collect stickers?
9. Which one would you rather wear: a fancy dress or a fancy tuxedo?

P.P.S. Happy Monday, sweet girl! 🤗 I hope your weekend was restful and relaxing. This week will bring us all great things, I just know it. Take extra good care of yourself today, OK?

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 685

November 7th, 2021 by Karen 5 Comments

Rosie really impressed me this weekend. She took initiative on something she’d been wanting for a while, and her dedication reminded me of Tabs.

As you know, because I’ve spoken ad nauseum about it and, I mean, it’s pop culture history and part of the historical record, Tabs was a mover and a shaker. He knocked down barriers for a living, like he was playing life dominos, just boom after boom — awesomeness everyday.

One minute he’s finishing a novel; next minute he’s producing his own reality TV show.

He was hungrier than a tiger when it came to achieving greatness, and he had personality oozing out his pores.

He was always on the go, heading somewhere to accomplish something.

I managed his calendar, so I know. Boy, I could tell you some stories. He was the only cat I knew who would book two kitty modeling campaigns for the same day, and he did it ALL. THE. TIME.

So, that thing I mentioned Rosie was working on? Well, she’d been wanting to see the snow, because she’s only seen it once in real life, and it was years ago. She wanted to play in the snow, but it doesn’t really snow here in Novato, so what did she do? She built a snow machine!