Good morning, glory! Merry Christmas! 🙂
I’m here at my parents’ house (in my childhood bedroom) in the East Bay just waking up. Everyone else is still sleeping in the house, but I wanted to quietly wish you a happy holiday, tell you how much I love you and whisper a heartfelt “thank you.”
Thank you for stopping by my little corner of the crazy-verse on your journeys, for being a friendly face, for offering a kind word from time to time in the comments when I need one, and for simply smiling when you visit because your joy brightens the world.
Thank you, friend. Seven Christmases together and still going strong.
Sending you big virtual (kitty and human) hugs today…
Sometimes this whole blogging thing can get a little lonely, especially during the week when it’s just Tabs and I in my cluttered office and makeup and camera setups for hours on end, and then I post a review or something, and you comment to say that you like one of the colors I’m wearing or ask if I watched something on TV, and I smile because, just like that, I don’t feel alone anymore, and don’t feel quite so strange for carrying on so many (long) conversations with my cat.
With lots of love today and best wishes for a wonderful holiday, your friendly neighborhood beauty addicts,
Karen & Tabs
Merry Christmas, Karen and Tabs! And to El Hubs, too! Your posts ALWAYS make me smile, so thank you, thank you for being there!
Hi Red Weather Tiger,
You’re so sweet! Merry Christmas to you and your family, and meows from Tabs!
Merry Christmas! That red sparkly cat jacket is fabulous! I love your blog. The pop culture references and silliness make makeup and beauty stuff even more fun!
Thank you, Alissa! Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas Karen, El Hub and Tabs! I only discovered your blog this year but have loved every minute! You always make me laugh and smile and I’ve discovered some amazing products from your recommendations. I’ve even had to go back and read your old posts to catch up on what I’ve missed. Awesomesauce! Your looks are always amazing – I can’t wait until the Mac Metallic Nudes are released tomorrow!
Hope your holidays are wonderful and gravy-filled 🙂
Thank you, Leslie! Merry Christmas!
Have fun at the MAC counter tomorrow…what’s on your wish list?
Merry Christmas Karen, Tabs and el Hub! And thank you for all your wonderful posts and our friendly conversions.
It has been such a joy getting to know you, Agata. Please know you always have a shopping and lunch buddy here in the SF Bay Area. Hope you come and visit soon!
Merry Christmas and best wishes for you and yours! Pheobe says maow.
Hi Darbie,
Tell Pheobe hi from me and Tabs! 🙂 Merry Christmas!
Happy holidays and thank YOU so much for having such a great blog! Have a great Christmas and i wish you all the best wishes for next year 🙂
Thank you Mandy! Merry Christmas!
Karen, Merry Christmas to you too! Have a wonderful holiday and thank you for always bringing a smile and a laugh to my face when I read your blog. Give Tabs a squeeze for me!
Will do, Lauren. Merry Christmas! 😀
happiest of Christmases to you Karen, Tabs, and El Hub! Tabs looks fierce in his hoodie, LOL! Your blog is terrific, I know it takes a lot to create your beautiful posts so I really appreciate all of it 🙂
Happy Christmas to you too, Kat! 🙂
Thank you Karen and Tabs and Merry Christmas to you! I’ve so enjoyed reading your blog every day and connecting with you in the comments over the past year. Thanks for brightening my days with your intelligent and amusing reviews, photography and great style.
Xoxo
Hi Meredith,
It’s been lovely getting to know you too. Thank you for taking time out of your day to say hi and to leave comments. I really do appreciate it! 🙂 I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and that you’re feeling happy and loved today.
Merry Christmas and thank you!
Merry Christmas to you too, Petra!
Have a very Merry Christmas, Karen and Tabs! I love these pictures. My he’s such a big handsome boy :). Love you!
Love you too, Aida! Merry Christmas. 🙂
Karen I think I haven’t told you how I began to read your blog:
With internet as always I searched a blush, of course, and I read your review I think was a NARS’s Exhibit A or Liberté; I ended up reading your Unsung Heroes series which impressed me, but I didn’t become a reader in that moment.
It was until reading Pink Sith’s post about makeup bloggers and she mentioned you were one of the few that actually made money by blogging intrigued me, so I started to read you with more interest and I became a reader/friend/fan.
Merry Christmas Karen, Tabs and El Hub.
Merry Christmas, Efrain. It’s been so nice to get to know you over the comments and on twitter. I feel like I have a new friend! Hope you had a wonderful day!
His Christmas outfit is so cute!
I’ll let him know you approve, Rikki!
Merry Christmas to you and hubby. And of course tabs the fabulous tabby kitteh. He looks very dapper in his coat.
Merry Christmas, Alexandra! 🙂
Happy Holidays, Karen! Tabs looks amazing in his Christmas coat, and something tells me he likes it, though he would never admit it! Have a great day!
Hi Rachel,
Happy holidays to you too! You know Tabs is all about flashy outerwear, LOL!
Feliz Navidad !! Your blog is the best. Besos to you, el Tabs and your hubby
Thank you, Silka! Merry Christmas!
MERRY CHRISTMAS to you Karen, and of course to Tabs the marvellous kitty. I cannot imagine the amount of hours you spend everyday working on this blog, but I can tell you I really appreciate the quality of your work. I really like your photos, and the way you write. Of course, I am a big fan of Tabs, I am a CatLady 😉 I rarely leave a comment here, but I take my time to do it today.
Hugs from Canada
You are so sweet! Big cat lady hugs back from the SF Bay Area. 🙂 Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas Karen!!! Thank you for what you do! Visiting your blog during my stressful week and seeing pretty makeup and pictures of Tabs always puts a smile on my face. Hope you have a wonderful day!
Oh, Kellie! This makes me so happy. I’m glad to be able to bring some stress relief and a smile to your day. Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Merry Christmas, Karen and Tabs!! You provide your readers such a fun and welcoming corner of the internet — thank you!
Tabs is wearing the *hell* outta that jacket. But you look great, too, Karen 🙂 What lip color are you fabulously wearing?
Hi Katie,
Thank you! I’ll let Tabs know you approve of his latest fashion forward choice. 😀 As for the lip, it’s NARS Luxembourg Satin Lip Pencil — a must-have watermelon red!
http://www.narscosmetics.com/color/lips/satin-lip-pencil/luxembourg
Merry Christmas Karen, Tabs and El Hub! I had a good laugh at these pictures.Tabs looks fierce in his Christmas outfit! To Cute.
Thank you, Denise! Doesn’t Tabs look good in red? LOL! Merry Christmas, and I hope you and your kids had a wonderful day.
Merry Christmas Karen!!
Merry Christmas, Cindy!
Happy holidays, Karen! All the best to you, your family and little Tabs!
Same to you, my friend! 🙂 Happy holidays!
Merry Christmas Karen!!!
Thank you so much for all the hard work you put into your content (especially the You Tube vids – love those!), as a reader it’s easy to think that what you do is easy but from my own limited experience I understand how demanding it is – so thank you for putting in the work.
As a total aside, kudos for getting Tabs into that sequinned number – I bet that wasn’t an easy task but he looks even more adorable than usual!
I hope you and your family have a wonderful day and I can’t wait to see what you have in store for us in 2014, amazing things I’m sure!
xoxo
Beth
Hi Beth,
Merry Christmas to you too! This was very kind of you, and I appreciate it from the bottom of my cat lady heart! 🙂
I hope that you had a great day, and that you were able to spend lots of time with friends and loved ones.
As for getting Tabs into that outfit…it took a can of gravy and several handfuls of Temptations Treats. You know cats, LOL!
Merry Christmas to you and yours! Thank you for your blog and its inspiration to me 🙂
That’s so sweet, Sherry! Merry Christmas!
How can I love you all more than I already do? This blog is the bomb, I tell you! That Tabs the Gravy Man makes me laugh so hard sometimes because he’s so cute. Looking forward to 2014 with you! 😉 It’s only going to get even better, Karen- you’re a joy, you know that?
Hi Betsy,
This was such a sweet comment. Thank you so much! Tabs sends purrs and kitty hugs your way. Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas! Love these festive pics of you and Tabs :).
Thank you Jacque! Merry Christmas to you too!
Merry Christmas, dear Karen. Tabs looks super cute 🙂 xx
Merry Christmas, Marina! It has been so nice getting to know you ever the last few years. I hope 2014 brings you lots of love and happiness.
Merry Christmas to you, Karen, Tabs and El Hub! Thank you for all your hard work and entertaining blogging 🙂 have a wonderful day with your family, and I’m looking forward to reading more of your adventures in 2014! 🙂
Hi Sylirael,
This was so sweet. Merry Christmas to you and your family too! 🙂
Merry Christmas Karen and Tabs. Thank you for doing what you do and for doing it your way. LOVE (it).
Ineke from across the pond…
Sending you lots of purrs and Christmas wishes from the SF Bay today, Ineke! 🙂
Merry Christmas Karen & Tabs! Many thanks for all that you do every day, all year long. Best wishes to you & your family.
Thank you, Colleen, for reading and commenting! I appreciate you and everyone else here who takes the time to stop by and say hello. Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas Karen and Tabs!!! I always loved going to your house growing up. We had some fun times! Hope your Christmas was wonderful!!!
Hi Karrie,
Merry Christmas to you too! My parents were actually just talking about you and your family last night. Hope that we get to see each other again soon. We still have a date at Bliss spa, remember?
Merry Christmas to you and your family, Karen! Love you and your blog!
Merry Christmas, grlnxdor!
Merry Christmas Karen and Tabs. I love reading your blog!
Thank you, Petunia! Merry Christmas to you to and Tabs sends his love. 🙂
Merry Christmas to you and tabs! Your work is greatly appreciated and thank you! I loved reading this 🙂
Hi Taylor,
Merry, merry Christmas to you too! Hope your day was filled with lots of food, family and fun. 🙂
I couldn’t say how many times a visit to MBB put a smile on my face! It’s made me want to do to the same thing and even though I don’t have the time or same passion you have it is inspiring!! (And of course I wouldn’t have a bad-ass kitty model for a boss.)
Hi StephDJ,
I’m so happy to hear this! All I ever want to do is to bring some happiness into someone else’s day. I hope you had a lovely Christmas and that the new year brings you so much luck and joy! Tabs sends his regards, by the way.
Hi Karen! I’m a looooong time faithful reader, but I have never commented before! I just don’t really comment much on the Internet for some reason haha. But I felt compelled to comment today to let you know how much I love you, Tabs, and your blog! I subscribe via email and read up everyday! I’m a huge beauty junkie, and out of all the hundreds (thousands? Hundred thousands? Lol) of makeup and beauty blogs yours is the only one I subscribe to and also the only one I read everyday. I love the aesthetic of your site, your through reviews and excellent swatches, your flawless looks and YOU! We are about the same age and I am also from NorCal and also a crazy cat lady and woman, you just speak my language! You do a fantastic job and I felt bad being such a fan and not saying so to you! Keep it up lady! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family and your kitteh!
Hi LeslieMariea,
Thank you so much for stopping by to say hello! It’s always nice to meet another Nor Cal girl/cat lady. 😀 I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and that you were able to spend time with your loved ones today.
Do you currently have any cats? For now it’s just me and Tabs. He keeps me on a short leash.
Meowy Christmas!
Merry Christmas to your beautiful family Karen! Hope you had a great Christmas along your loved ones! Thank you for what you do!
Meowy Christmas, Karen and Tabs! Thank you for putting a smile on my face every day of the year!<3
Merry Christmas to you!
Merry Christmas to you Karen and to Tabs! Love visiting your blog daily, so thank you for keeping at it!
Merry Christmas, Karen & Tabs! You look so radiant in the pictures, but no one and nothing can outshine Tabs when he is decked in sequins.
Merry Christmas dear for you and your family too <3 <3
And for TABS too <3 <3 Merry Kitty Tabs 😀 *lol*
Merry Christmas to you and your family too!
Merry Christmas Karen, Tabs and of course, El Hubs! Thank you for making my morning everyday with your wise words of beauty advice and Tabs sultry super model styles! Best to you and yours!
merry christmas Karen and tabbys!
I’m on vacation, and my internet is bad here
Loved the photos! you two are too beautiful! Love you guys!
That in 2014 we’re together and happy, always be here in MBB
A lot of positive energy!
Beijao
Merry Christmas to you and your family, Karen! I hope you all had a great Christmas. 🙂
merry christmas Karen and tabbys!
I’m on vacation, and my internet is bad here
Loved the photos! you two are too beautiful! Love you guys!
That in 2014 we’re together and happy, always be here in MBB
A lot of positive energy
kisses You
OMG, those sequins! Fierce!
Merry belated Christmas Karen and Tabs! I spent it at my parents’ in my childhood bedroom too, and my brother and his wife showed up as well!
Hi Chelsea,
You know he’s all about the bling! 😀 Between the sequins and the hood it was the perfect storm of awesomeness. I kinda wish I had a matching one so we could wear our outfits together, haha. (That was so totally CCL, I know.) Are you guys still visiting with your parents? Or are you back home with QB and Jiji?
Haha, I’d love to match my kitty! I mostly wear black though, so he, Quincy and I coordinate.
I’m back home, I missed the babies, and Zack works tomorrow. Jiji was definitely a little miffed when we left because I had to take him out of his afternoon nap hiding spot (he hides in my closet on a shelf behind the hanging clothes, on top of extra purses) and put him in his bedroom (Zack has a work table in there, but it’s mostly Jiji’s room) for the two days.
Thank you for all your posts this last year. You are a great entertaining writer. Best of luck to you and Tabs in 2014.
Girl, you are the best. Love to you and Tabs!
Let me add:
You are real.
You are open.
You are honest.
That is what we relate to and respond to.
Out of all the blogs I read (beauty and non beauty) yours is at the top.
Don’t ever feel like you are alone.
Merry Christmas to you, Karen, and to Tabs and El Hub, too. Thank you so much for your wonderful blog! I look forward to it every day – you always brighten my day with your uplifting and inspiring writing. Your photography is always so beautiful, and reviews are fantastic. Like others have already said, don’t ever feel like you are alone. You are a blessing to everyone who follows you, and I can’t wait to see what you do in 2014. Happy New Year!
Best.pictures.evah.
You both are beyond adorable! Lots of love to you guys! Miaos and xoxo.
I’m not a cat person at all (my friends tell me all the time that I need to learn to like cats more), but these pics of Tabs absolutely melted my heart. Happy new year!