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Blogging for Breast Cancer: Cooperation Is a Beautiful Thing

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Good morning, ladies. 🙂 I hope you slept well.

Can you believe that today’s the last Sunday in October? November’s right around the corner. By this time next week, we’ll have said goodbye to yet another Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which means no more pink ribbons for a while (they’ll go back into storage).

Why it’s personal to me…

I’m kinda melancholy about it, but I feel like the world made good BCA progress this year. No cure yet, and much of the increased awareness comes via corporations commercializing the cause, but ultimately the how/why doesn’t matter, does it? More of us are aware of the disease than we were a month ago, and that’s a good thing no matter what.

Strike while the iron’s hot

There are still seven October days left for one final push to raise funds for research and support. That’s why I’m upping the ante in our MBB fundraiser for Susan G. Komen for the Cure. I pledge to match every $1 you donate through the widget here with $2 of my own (up to $500 total). If you can give $5, I’ll match you with $10 (for $15 total).

Can you help?And if you make a donation to Komen through a different blog or through their site directly, just e-mail me a picture/scan of your receipt, and I’ll make the same 2-1 match (up to $500 total).

I feel like we should strike while the iron’s hot because soon we’ll move on to other causes, and the holidays will take center stage.

Please help make one final push before the end of October. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Retro Roundup: A Year Ago on Makeup and Beauty Blog

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2008

  • How Do You Wear Red Lipstick? Tips and Tricks: Like the Ol’ Faithful of lip looks, a red lip is one of the most reliable, fool-proof ways to steal the spotlight. But red and other bright lip shades can be challenging colors to wear. Here’s my secret to wearing reds.
  • 10 Fantastic Smokey Eye Tutorials: I’m always looking to get better at doing smokey eyes. I’ve come across hundreds of smokey eye tutorials, and I think these 10 are some of the most helpful ones. I hope you find them useful, too!
  • 11 Great Makeup Wipes and Cleansers: A few days ago of you gals then offered up your fave makeup removing wipes and cleansers in the comments. Here’s a list featuring your recommendations and why you love ‘em!
  • 5 Makeup Storage Idea Starters: If you’re like me and struggle to stay organized, here are a few simple makeup storage ideas.

2007

  • A Trip to the Bliss San Francisco Spa: I went to the Bliss Spa at the W Hotel in San Francisco to get a pedicure yesterday, and all I have to say is the place effing rules. I briefly thought about keeping it as a secret and not blogging about it, but then I’d be doing all women with jacked-up feet a serious disservice.
  • MAC Reviews: Invisible Set Powder, Paint Pots and More: Invisible Set definitely keeps me less oily throughout the day, but on my skin it really depends on what type of base it adheres. I’ve tried it with various types of coverage, from light tinted moisturizers to medium coverage liquid foundations. By far the best results were from the heavier coverage products.
  • Makeup and Beauty Tips for Breast Cancer Patients: Meet my friend, Mary Anne. She’s a breast cancer survivor and the coolest dentist I know. One of the many challenges for Mary Anne was navigating the world of makeup and beauty as a cancer patient. Here are a few great tips that she’s learned this past year on how to stay beautiful both inside and out.
  • Have You Heard of DHC? They’re a RAD Japanese skin and cosmetics brand where you can buy a bunch of stuff with no English on the packaging, but you always end up with something cool. Their products are based on high quality olive oil and free of unnecessary coloring agents or irritating fragrances.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

The Beauty of Blog World 2009: A Beginner’s Guide to Web Traffic

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The Beauty of Blog World 2009: A Beginner's Guide to Web Traffic

Even though Blog World wrapped up last weekend, I wanted to talk a little about traffic building because it was one of the most discussed topics at the event.

Assuming it’s one of your goals (it doesn’t have to be), the experts had a lot to say about building readership/viewership to websites and blogs. Today I’m going to gloss over the jargon and give you some tips you can implement on your own.

Previously in The Beauty of Blog World…

  1. The Beauty of Blog World 2009
  2. The Beauty of Blog World 2009: How to Earn More Money from Your Blog
  3. The Beauty of Blog World 2009: How to Make Better Videos

Tip #1: Produce desirable content

This one’s the most important tip but also the hardest to define. “Content is King,” the traffic experts say, but what do they really mean? Answer: If you think about it, what draws you to your favorite makeup counters, stores, websites and blogs? In my case, I visit MAC counters because I’m *obsessed* with their makeup; I read Zen Habits because it helps me relax. Ultimately, we visit the places that give us what we want.

As a practical matter, I think it’s harder (although not impossible) to attract readers to personal journal blogs because, let’s face it, our lives usually aren’t as interesting as we think they are. But when we blog with passion about specific topics (keeping in mind that no one owes us their time), we tend to attract people with similar interests.

Tip #2: The power of key words

What words would someone use on Google to find your blog?

Whatever they are, those are some of your key words, and you want to use your key words in as many places as you can — in your domain name (i.e. lipstickeyeshadowandgloss.com, catsinuniform.com), in your URLs (i.e. catsinuniform.com/cat/uniforms/catuniforms.php — the parts between the / slashes), in your post titles (Cat Uniforms Under $10, My 5 Favorite Lipsticks of 2009, Don’t Gloss Over These Lipsticks, etc.), within the text of your posts and also within the text using HTML header tags (h1, h2, h3, h4). The more you use your key words, the more credit your blog will get from Google and the other search engines for searches using those terms.

Tip #3: Links

Not only do links translate into direct traffic to your blog, as they get clicked wherever they appear, but they also contribute to your placement in the search rankings on Google.
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Saturday Surfing

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G’morning, surf divas. 🙂 I’m so glad the weekend’s finally here!

I woke up to the sound of Tabs chirping at the windowsill. He was fixated on some doves by an old oak tree outside and couldn’t contain his excitement.

It was like his little kitty brain was plotting his escape.

Ever since my little brother said he thought Tabs suffers from Stockholm syndrome (LOL!), I’ve been wondering if Tabs sees himself as a hostage…

My favorite video game of all time!!

This poem is like candy for my soul…

… and so is this super-rad example of kick arse video editing.

The world’s coolest fish tank.

How’s your day coming along? I’m sorting through boxes and may go for a run if it warms up outside.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

$6 Clean and Clear Makeup Dissolving Facial Wipes Do Double Duty

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To streamline my travel beauty routine and the airport screening process, I try to avoid packing products that 1) are liquids and 2) require a bunch of steps to use.

That’s why, for my trip last week, I grabbed a pack of Clean and Clear Makeup Dissolving Facial Cleansing Wipes ($6 for a pack of 25).

They’re pre-moistened and come in a re-sealable bag that fits snugly into my carry-on luggage (a suitcase small enough for an overhead bin).

These beauties do double duty, making them ideal for travel. They remove most kinds of makeup (gloss, foundation, powder, blush and eyeshadow with ease) and cleanse skin at the same time. Even better, you don’t have to rinse.

After late nights playing Kitty Glitter, I liked returning to my room and removing my makeup in a flash.

They feel soft against my skin, have a light soapy scent that smells fresh and clean, and I don’t detect a residue or sticky film (I use them on my face and neck) after using one.

But when pitted against waterproof makeup, they kinda disappoint.

It took a lot of gentle rubbling to thoroughly remove long-wearing products like MAC Fluidline, Stila Lash Visor Waterproof Mascara and Urban Decay Heavy Metal Glitter Eyeliner.

It’s not a dealbreaker for me, but it does keep them from earning flying colors.

Being just $6 per pack, feeling great on my skin and smelling so nice, I think they’re a great bargain, but I do wish they worked a little better on waterproof stuff… Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: B

Casual Fridays

Tabs is taking advantage of the new MBB Casual Friday work attire policy. What do ya think of his new outfit?

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Two Ways to Win MAC Style Black Midnight Media Mattene Lipstick

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TGIF!!!
I’m so glad it’s Friday, ladies, and I’m looking forward to some high-intensity relaxation and makeup fun. I may bust out a brazen lip or sparkly eye and then park my bedazzled bum on the couch in front of the TV. That’s how I live on the edge. 🙂

Do you ever wear outrageously dramatic looks and then just stay at home? I do — a lot. What do you think of MAC Midnight Media lipstick for indoor fun? It’s a dark black matte lippie from the Style Black collection, and it’s something I’d probably wear a little more often at home than out of the house.

Hmm… Methinks it’s time for a giveaway.

The prize

One lucky lady will receive a tube of MAC Mattene Lipstick in Midnight Media from the Style Black Collection (a $14.50 value).

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How to enter…

2ways2enterEntering is easy. There are two different ways, 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. In it, tell me what your plans are for the weekend.

This living out of boxes is driving me nuts! I hope to do some unpacking and maybe go to dinner and a movie with Tabs El Hub. 🙂

Follow me
Second, enter by following me on Twitter and retweeting (RT) the following message:

RT @karenmbb: RT to MAC Style Black Midnight Media Lipstick http://bit.ly/3a2pNS

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. Follow me on Twitter and retweet the following message:

    RT @karenmbb: RT to MAC Style Black Midnight Media Lipstick http://bit.ly/3a2pNS

I’ll pick the winner at random from among the people who enter by 11:59 p.m. PST on Sunday, October 25.

Gangi þér vel!!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

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