Karen

Good morning, cuties. Merry Christmas! Just a quick note to wish you a wonderful day today and to tell you thanks for your support and friendship. It’s been a fun year (but one with its share of challenges for us all), and I hope the year to come is a great one for you.

What are your plans today? Does your family celebrate Christmas? My side of the family back in California celebrates late on Christmas Eve, so we used Skype last night to video chat with them from here in Hawaii. Today with El Hub’s side of the family, we’ll be opening presents soon and just spending the day together chilling at home (it’s POURING down rain right now).

Whatever you have going on this weekend, be safe and have fun! We’ll talk again soon.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

• UPDATE: Dec. 26, 2009. The giveaway is now closed, and the winner will be contacted soon. Good luck! 🙂

Howzit, ladies? T-minus four hours until Saint Nick arrives! Hasn’t time just zipped by in a flash?

Yesterday I went for a run around the neighborhood here to 1) work on my rapidly declining fitness and 2) to check out the local Christmas decorations.

They’re pretty much the same as what you would find on the mainland — Santas, reindeer, Christmas lights — but it’s kinda funny to see snowmen and Christmas lights in yards with palm trees and hibiscus flowers. 🙂

This afternoon, I’m gonna try to head to Waikiki, braving the traffic and last-minute shoppers. I’ve heard that some of the hotels down there go all out with their Christmas decorations. If time permits, I may attempt to demonstrate the proper way to fall off a surfboard (ungracefully, ideally after two seconds).

Before that, I think it’s time for another giveaway! 🙂

The prize

One lucky lady will win Bobbi Brown’s Velvet Plum Eye Palette (a $40 value), a limited edition holiday eyeshadow palette with four versatile eyeshadows perfect for business meetings or drinks after work.

The shades…

• Bone: off white
• Naked: medium neutral pink
• Velvet Plum: shimmery blackish plum
• Espresso: dark chocolate brown

I love how these colors POP! without going too far.

How to enter…

Entering 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 the one thing you want MOST for Christmas

Happiness and health for all of my family and friends (that’s you). Oh, and maybe also something from Kate Spade, LOL! 🙂

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

RT @karenmbb: RT to win a Bobbi Brown Velvet Plum Eyeshadow Palette (a $40 Value) http://bit.ly/53DtiC

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 win a Bobbi Brown Velvet Plum Eyeshadow Palette (a $40 Value) http://bit.ly/53DtiC

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

Merry Christmas!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

• UPDATE: Dec. 26, 2009. The giveaway is now closed, and the winner will be contacted soon. Good luck! 🙂

With the end of the year looming, now is when a lot of us like to reflect. I like to look back at the past year — its obstacles and accomplishments — and forward to the year ahead.

I also think about changes I’ve made to my look this year. My new hair was a big one, and I’m happy I took that plunge (bangs!). I’m not entirely happy with my skin right now, however, and that’s something I want to work on in 2010.

How about you? Are you happy with your look?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Merry Christmas Eve morning, lovely lady. How did you sleep?

I think I slept well… I mean, I’m not sure. I think it’s too early to tell, LOL! My engine hasn’t even revved up yet. Judging by the darkness and silence outside, the chickens aren’t even awake!

While my neurons and I just lay here in the darkness contemplating Christmas, here’s a look back at some recent posts you may have missed.

Carmindy’s New Smoky Eye Kit Makes One Heck of a Stocking Stuffer

Leave it to makeup artist Carmindy (of TLC’s What Not To Wear) to make smokey eyes even easier than flipping your hair (well, almost). Her new Perfect Smoky Eyes Kit ($23, part of the Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Inspired by Carmindy line) comes with three coordinating eye products perfect for creating understated, elegant, just plain pretty smokey eyes.

The Urban Decay Show Pony Palette Is Ready to Party

For this (sassy) shimmery teal and peach look, I started with a layer of Urban Decay Sin Primer Potion beneath my shadows to increase their staying power and then added Urban Decay Skyscraper Mascara for extra oomph on my lashes.

Olay In-Shower Body Lotion Is Cutting Out the Middle Man

Thank you, Olay In-Shower Age Defying Body Lotion ($7), for turning me into a well-oiled, lotion-applying machine. Depending on how long I stick with creamy Olay In-Shower Body Lotion (I’m fickle when it comes to lotions), I could save hundreds of hours over the rest of my life. That’s because it basically eliminates the five minutes I’d otherwise spend applying lotion after every shower.

Lightening Up with the China Glaze Up and Away Collection

The shiny-happy mix of creamy brights and pastels in China Glaze’s new collection look like the colors from a Deee-Lite video. So playful and girly! And most of the 12 apply smooth with full coverage. The two that didn’t for me (the lighter shades) — Something Sweet and Light as Air — gave me some trubs in the streaking department, but I still really like the colors.

Lip Look: Hourglass Extreme Sheen Gloss in Siren

Well, hello, pigment! When it comes to color, Hourglass Cosmetics’ Extreme Sheen Lipgloss in Siren ($28), a shimmery reddish copper, does NOT mess around. It’s like a technicolor dream in tube form! Super rich, right? And opaque color isn’t the only thing this gloss has going for it…

DuWop Foundation of Youth, Revisited

Despite having a few negatives, Foundation of Youth is still one of the best foundations I’ve tried in recent years. I’m not a fan of the goofy brush-a-ma-bob or the limited selection of colors, but I LOVE how natural it feels on my skin and how beautifully it photographs (takes very well to the flash).

Holiday Party Makeup: A Casual Get-Together with Friends

Just like the office party look I tried earlier this month, this look’s also pretty conservative, relying on cool browns, pinks and golds for the eyes, lips and cheeks. It relies on products from the Clarins Palazzo D’Oro collection.

12 Ways to Fake a Good Night’s Sleep with Makeup

‘Tis the season for late nights, ladies — holiday parties, cramming for finals and waiting up for Santa. If you’re not getting enough shuteye over the holidays, why not fake a good night’s sleep with a little help from makeup?
[Continue reading…]