There’s a lot of awesomeness in the world, but very little of it gets the recognition it deserves.
Like, when was the last time you gave big ups to your orthodontist? I know that without mine I’d still have a snaggle tooth, so I’d like to say thank you, Dr. Chong, and give you a shout-out. 🙂 Thanks to you and to all of the people, places and things that make my life better.
Things like frozen broccoli, ponytail holders, two-ply toilet paper — all of you deserve a shout-out!
The idea’s catching on. Shout-outs went viral on Twitter this week (LOL!), with inspired tweeters giving props to everything from single parents, to mix tapes, Snuggies, brow waxers and Santa Claus. 
So, in the spirit of Christmas long overdue recognition, here are nine shout-outs I would like to give (in no particular order).
1. The inventor of Nutella
Despite my rapidly expanding bum, I’d like to give a shout-out to Mr. or Mrs. Nutella (YOU ROCK!). For me, your chocolaty hazelnut spread changed whole wheat toast forever. There, I said it.
But sometimes I’ll skip the toast and have it with sliced strawberries or peaches, or maybe just on a spoon all by itself (try it with a sprinkling of sea salt), YUM!
And some shout-outs segue to other ones, like this one I’d like to give to…
2. The inventor of the treadmill
I still love running outside, but the elements and I don’t always get along. Plus, my knees aren’t what they used to be, and the treadmill’s softer surface is more forgiving than pavement.
Run, Forrest! Run!
3. The shoe section at Marshalls
They could have called it Discount Shoe Nirvana, a store within the store, because that’s exactly what it is.
I stopped by the one near my house last night and found these two pairs of ankle boots…
Cute, yah?
El Hub calls these my “Golden Girls shoes”
The brown Carlos Santana boots were $35, marked down from $75, and the gray Bamboo boots were $25, marked down from $36. Not bad, considering that either pair at a department store like Nordstrom could have cost $50 or more.
4. People who foster rescue animals
You deserve a BIG shout-out for giving animals a second chance. 🙂
5. The salad bar at Whole Foods
It must be visited with budgetary restraint in mind, lest you leave having spent $15 on corn and arugula, but it’s the best salad bar I’ve ever seen. Always fresh, a great variety, and I think I even feel a little better after I’ve gobbled down some greens.
6. Supportive people
I’d like to give a shout-out to all of the supportive partners, parents and friends out there. I raise the roof to you!
7. Granny panties
Yeah, they’re ugly as all hell, but they help to hide my tummy when I’m bloated. Oh, and I also wear ’em when I work out because they never ride up, like when I’m doing lunges. Wait — I’m actually wearing a pair right now. They’re mint green and totally hideous! 🙂
8. Random strangers who smile back at me when I’m walking down the street
My mom likes to say, “Smile, and the whole world smiles with you.” It’s just a brief, fleeting moment, but the gesture makes me feel connected and reminds me of the kindness of others.
9. YOU!
Okay, you knew I’d have to get a little sappy here, right? I’d like to give a shout-out to you. Thank you for spending part of your days with me. Can you believe it’ll be four years as of next February? Four years!
Old school Makeup and Beauty Blog, early 2007
Thanks for being so considerate, thoughtful, exciting and unique. 🙂
Your turn! Do you have any shout-outs to give? Share yours in the comments. You can give as many or as few as you’d like. I chose to do nine because…I always do nine. But you could give none, one or even 22!
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
shout out to:
-the lovelies who follow & comment on my blog. i started my blog as an outlet for my interests and to have people support it in that way means a lot!
-my parents for always supporting my dreams <3.
-fuzzy socks for keeping my tootsies warm!
p.s.
LOVE the bamboo boots! i don't get the golden girls reference, but i think they're FIERCE!
Those boots are so cute! I may have to go check out Marshall’s around here again. I usually get frustrated and leave empty handed.
-You, Karen!- Your blog inspired me to start my own. Thank you for being fabulous and a very entertaining writer :-).
-My parents- I have been blessed with an amazing mom and dad who have sacrificed so much to give me a better life than they had. I can never thank them enough for being so wonderful to me and my siblings. Aaand cue the tears, I can’t talk about my parents without tearing up, I love them so much.
-Discounted shoes- because some of us fashionistas don’t have the biggest wallets lol.
-Faith 21- Finally, affordable AND fashionable clothing for us curvier girls.
-My bff, Shannon- my soul sista, I would have lost my mind without her a long time ago. The only person that can read my mind.
-Ditto on the Nutella inventor- AMAZING.
-No H8 campaign coordinators- pretty much anyone fighting for a cause greater than themselves.
-In-n-Out
-My dog, Ham- one of the best males in my life, he just has endless love for me and is ALWAYS excited to see me.
-Fellow beauty bloggers- I love having a circle of people that can relate to my makeup obsession.
i give a shout out to mi roomie! that’s my top dawg! she hearts me even when it looks like the El Nino storm just passed through my room and then an earthquake it after! (its a messy clean lol)
also a huge shout out to my beta-fishy (Betsey) crazy fishy jumped outta her fish bowl thingie (gosh knows how long cause next thing i noticed she was on my carpet) but she’s a survivor!
ofcourse you just HAVE to give major shout outs to Miss Karen for a shizzzznit blog! I loves!
if not for this blog i would not have any plans on Sept 30th (the release date for MAC’s new line) I’ll be first in counter! woot woot!! 🙂
Love the boots even better with the Golden Girls reference!
Shout outs to:
– Shazam inventors: I’d never know song titles without them!
– Coffee shops: need them for survival.
– My chiropractor: best way to improve my mood and life is to straighten my spine.
Those shoes will forever be known as my Blanche Boots. 🙂
Shout out to the men in our lives who put up with our cosmetic obsessions (and still love us).
Shout out to coffee…it has never let me down.
Shout out to Apple…their iOS has made blogging & video editing a world easier
Shout out to full-body massages
Shout out to YOU Karen 🙂 You were the first beauty blogger I ever found…I stayed up til 4am reading all your posts the night I came across your blog. You even inspired me to start blogging myself. Thank you for being such an inspiration!
Aww, Jessica! I’m so glad that the site inspired you. That makes me really happy to hear.
* Long socks! And my fave store for them, Sock Dreams.
* Bras that fit! Really, i ADORE Bravissimo for having a huge range of sizes to choose from. I still get teary-eyed each time i get a catalog, since there’s so much choice. I had years and years of one granny bra that could be altered to fit or “Sorry, they just don’t make bras for people like you!” But now – plunge! balconette! pink! blue! polka-dot! plaid! It should tell you something that the first time i got a black granny bra, i cried with delight, since it wasn’t white or beige. o_O
Amen to the bras that fit!
Wow, to see that screenshot from 2007, your blog really lifts my day sometimes. The injection of humor in your posts makes me smile even when i’m having a bad day 🙂
I’m grateful to my family and friends, a.k.a my support system, there’s so many things to be grateful for but that’s the tops I think!
You’re so sweet, Lauren. Big hugs to you!
Shout out to:
(1) My husband, who is so cute (!) and always makes me laugh.
(2) Students who bother to tell me when they like my class. (Thank you!)
(3) The guy at the coffee shop who actually brings my latte to my table when I’m typing away on my laptop, instead of just shouting “double non-fat!!” at the top of his lungs until I pick it up at the counter.
(4) The person who invented pay-at-the-pump gas pumps.
(5) The person who invented those scan-your-check ATM machines. Seriously, how much of my life have I wasted filing out @*#$! deposit slips?
(6) Kipling, who makes great bags for travel that never, ever fall apart, even after multiple trips through the washer/dryer. I own three of them, one of which I’ve had for (I kid you not) 20 years.
(7) The Pill!! Seriously, shout out to whatever is your chosen form of bc, ladies, because where would we be without it??
(8) My Toyota Prius. 51 mpg, baby!
And finally,
(9) My grandfather, who is 91 years old, still as sharp as ever, still plays golf once a week, and always remembers to tell me how proud he is of me whenever I see him. Please, dear God, let those be the “old” genes I got!!
Aww, now I wish I told more of my teachers that I liked their class. 🙂
OMG! i just discovered nutella about a month ago when a friend said it tasted like Rocher chocolates and I haven’t put the spoon down yet! I love to eat it with graham crackers and crushed hazelnuts. yummy
My shout-outs:
Stila # 9 brush wow that brush is amazing at blending out the crease
And Hats they have been my go to for the last couple weeks. Just haven’t been in the mood to do much to my hair
Ooh, I’m always looking for a good crease brush. I’ll have to track down #9.
ohh shoutouts! always nice! 🙂
– to my Hubs: for his patience and the fact that he always makes me giggle like a 16 year old. sometimes i think he has no idea how much he has made my life so so so much better!
– to the owners of Target: my happy place. i can be grumpy and stressed at work and a walk down the many, wonderful aisles of Target will lift the gloom for sure!
– to network TV: thanks for making sure i dont die of boredom during the long fall and winter nights.
– to bookstores, booksellers and librarians, authors and illustrators: for the gift of the written word!
– to my furkids – Anja, Linus, Mojo and Nappie: you make me feel like a mum. you love me unconditionally. what more can i ask?
– to the internet: for connecting me with people who share common interests as i do. for helping me while the hours away at work and helping me find this blog and this writer! 🙂
– to my bosses: i ca be a brat but you appreciate the work i do. that makes me feel very fulfilled at the end of the day.
– to the makeup companies of the world (LOL): for allowing me to indulge my inner artist. who would have thought i can paint? my face!
– to the frozen yogurt places around town: you make me happy just by selling me your tart, swirly goodness in a cup. may your business prosper!
thanks, Karen — you are awesome! 🙂
I’m so glad to have met” you Nina!
Have a wonderful Friday!
Shout-out to Emergen-C and Airborne! The changing season and travel are wreaking havoc on my immune system.
Hi Myr,
I gotta give big ups to Cold Eeze too. That stuff is amazing!
#1 To my boot camp drill instructor (it’s called Booty Camp here LOL) for kicking my butt twice a week to a point that I almost cry.
#2 To Scherbatsky for being cute. 🙂
#3 To BF for being patient and sweet and a good cook.
#4 To my local barista who makes my morning lattes STRONG and delicious.
You all deserve a shoutout.
Hope your week has been fantastic Karen!
Hi Arianne,
Booty camp sounds intense… but fun! 🙂
You have a wonderful weekend!
Shout out to:
-AT&T for getting internet back up fast and in a hurry today.I almost lost my mind!
-The boys behind Twitter: best thing ever for an introvert like me
-Fall…its next week!! YEAH!
-God- He’s truly awesome awesome awesome!
-My two eggheads for kisses on the cheek and hugs in public. I know in a year or two they are not going wanna hug mommy in public
-UPS, USPS, FedEx for bringing goodies in the mail! Woo-Hoo!
Can you believe it’s fall already? The summer went by so quickly!
Shoutout to you – it can be kind of hard judging makeup when you have a little extra melanin going on but you help me not look like ass in the morning!
Shoutout to family for putting up with shenanigans…
And ooh, shoutout to Jello sugar-free puddings for always being there when TV just can’t do alone.
Thanks, Aparnaa.
And yes, those Jello cups are magical.
Happy Friday!
My blog’s BDay is also in Februray, yay! And lol about #7
Ha! It’s true though.
:thumbs up: nice post…
shout out to: my bf for coming with me to mall for buying all cosmetics stuff… 🙂
Thanks!
Shout outs to: potato chips, shopping, my mom and my fiance!! TGIF
TGIF indeed!
Shout out to caffeine, nicotine and gasoline… the 3 things that kept me going through the 90s! 🙂 Of course, I don’t drive very far anymore, don’t smoke and have drastically limited my caffeine intake since then, but hey… they all helped me make some great memories!
Shout out to the best friends in the world, the best husband, kids and parents. They’re all troopers.
Shout out to red wine, Friday nights, movies and music. Also, to the concept of organized sports (and, of course, the treadmill).
Finally, and you knew it was coming, shout out to you and your awesome blog. It makes me happy every time I read one of your upbeat posts. The fact that you take the time to comment back and get to know us is incredible. And, you’ve actually inspired me to care about make-up!!
Oh, and huge shout out to e-mail and the internet and iPods. Indispensable!
– Spicy tuna bowl from Sushi Boy – eating it now and boy do I feel 10x better. The spicy goodness is not only ultimately delicious, but it’s kicking this persistent sinus pressure in the ass.
– Milk tea boba
– I love Nutella too but try this: boil an unopened can of condensed milk in a pot of water for 4 hours (don’t forget to refill the water every few minutes, the can must remain submerged the entire time). Open it up and you’ll have smooth, delicious dulce de leche. Use it to make banoffee pie or add a sea salt and store it in a jar to eat with fruit, graham crackers or straight up with a spoon.
1. my gramma – for paying my way through university
2. my boyfriend – for being my free tutor through university
3. people who still say “please” and “thank you”
4. people who tip well (us servers are SO grateful)
5. sephora’s return policy
6. student prices at the gym
7. the inventor of cute sweat pants (holla VS PINK line)
8. aritzia…. although you are so expensive you make my wallet cry, i still love you
9. BRAZILIAN BLOWOUTS
If you ladies ever pass by from Rome, look in the Trastevere area for a small pizzeria called “Dar Poeta” (that means “At the poet place”): they do a gorgeous calzone with ricotta cheese and Nutella inside that is a life twister kind of experience…guarantee from an italian Nutella lover 😀
The guy you need to thank is mr Pietro Ferrero, here the whole history:
http://www.ferrero.com/products/the-most-famous-products/nutella/an-original-idea/
i love this. and ty i used to be an animal foster 🙂
ooer, shout outs.
To whoever created The Internet, which has improved my life immeasurably many times over.
And Youtube!! Seriously, what did we do before that?
To the guy who realized that a certain wonderful chemical, when used to treat Chrohn’s Disease, suddenly cured all symptoms of arthritis. Symptom free for five years and counting 🙂
I will have to agree with the orthodontist shout out; without Dr. Weed, I still wouldn’t be able to close my mouth around horribly buck teeth. Ugh.
Shout out to Mr. Lindt for the amazing truffles!
Smiles and Hugs from Mexico Karen.
A shout out to:
My best friends. Grateful for meeting you both.
My man.
Garlic.
Pasta.
Stiletto Heels.
ME.
NUTELLA? Try VIVANI Cream – you are going to throw your NUTELLA away.
Wow your site has come a long way since 2007! haha