Giveaways

Aww! I wish Ryan would serve me a salad…

I’m back in the Bay, babe. Back from Vegas and Photoshop World.

The conference was fantastic. I learned a lot of stuff about photography, especially lighting, but it’s all still swirling around in my head. I need some time to let everything percolate, go over my notes, and figure out how to apply the things I learned.

I know one of the areas I want to work on is color temperature and color correction. We get lots of sunshine here in Northern California, but as sunshine is wont to do, the quality and color of it changes over the course of the day and seasons. Face shots taken at 8 a.m. have a totally different color temp than pics taken at 4 p.m., and I’m trying to get the most consistent light possible WITHOUT compromising too much on my creative freedom, because even if it means more consistent color temps, I can’t bring myself to take every pic from the same position, standing in the same spot. It’s just not my thing. I need to be able to mix things up, try different poses, wear different outfits, props, use different backdrops, let myself be inspired. It’s how I keep myself fired up and interested, and it makes blogging more fun for me.

A simple studio setup would be easier, but we don’t do things the easy way here at Tabs the Cat Industries, LLC. Nuh-uh, no, ma’am.

Anywho, I’m blabbering…

It’s giveaway time, so let’s get to it, shall we? RyGos would like to present you with this lovely Sephora garden salad, but you must enter this weekend’s giveaway to partake. 🙂

Good luck, and have a wonderful day, babe. Hopefully I’ll see you on Twitter or Facebook today.

• One (1) Sephora eGift card containing $50 sent to the winner by email (international readers, you may opt to receive $50 sent by PayPal instead).

• Enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.
• Open to U.S. and international readers.
• You must be 18 or older to enter (or otherwise an adult based on your local laws).
• Your comment can be about anything at all, but here are some ideas if you’re stuck: Do you know any full-time artists (makeup, music, visual arts, etc.)? What’s your favorite TV theme song? Have you ever gone skydiving or flown in a hot-air balloon? What’s the most creative thing you’ve ever done (it’s ok to toot your own horn)? What’s a really good inexpensive concealer? Do you have any pictures of yourself on your walls at home? Do you subscribe to any magazines? — you get the idea.
• You can enter in up to seven ways to boost your chances of winning.
• The giveaway ends on Monday, September 9, 2013 at 11:59 PM (Pacific Time).
• Full terms and conditions are available in the widget.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Yikes! I’m glad I didn’t have a nightmare last night. I thought I might because of the movie El Hub and I went to see, You’re Next.

Um, scary? Thank goodness I watched an episode of New Girl when we got home afterward. It helped to refill my head with happy thoughts before bed.

In other news, how’s it going today? Happy Saturday to ya.

I haven’t been up long. I stayed in bed for a few minutes after waking to pet Tabs and listen to the sound of silence outside…until I could no longer resist the idea of a hot cup of coffee, which I’m making now.

Got another great giveaway for you this weekend for a $50 eGift card to Sephora. Tabs is very happy with his modeling spread at the top. He felt the photographer really did a good job capturing his soulful eyes. 🙂

Good luck, and have a wonderful day, babe. Maybe I’ll see you on Twitter or Facebook today.

• One (1) Sephora eGift card containing $50 sent to the winner by email (international readers, you may opt to receive $50 sent by PayPal instead).

• Enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.
• Open to U.S. and international readers.
• You must be 18 or older to enter (or otherwise an adult based on your local laws).
• Your comment can be about anything at all, but here are some ideas if you’re stuck: What color are your favorite pair of shoes? What did you have for dinner last night? Is one brow different than the other? Have you ever purchased a skincare product you had to return because of the way it smelled? What’s one of the best bargains in beauty today? Do you like any lip plumping products? — you get the picture.
• You can enter in up to seven ways to boost your chances of winning.
• The giveaway ends on Monday, September 2, 2013 at 11:59 PM (Pacific Time).
• Full terms and conditions are available in the widget.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Movie night recap for Friday, Aug. 23, 2013. First, the important details. I wore Benefit Dallas (looks great with a tan), NARS Tinted Moisturizer (a combo of St. Moritz and Cuba) with Hourglass Ambient Powder in Dim, POPBeauty Plump Pout in Fuchsia Freesia and a shimmery taupe lid with black cat eye liner.

Next, the movie, Elysium. Well, it could have been great…but it went down the rabbit hole of your run-of-the-mill action flick. The idea — a massive utopian space station where all of the world’s wealthiest people live in luxury, immune to disease and wanting for nothing, while the earth is polluted, overcrowded and impoverished sounds pretty interesting, right?

Sounds like good sci-fi, and it could have been, but then the samurai swords come out, and Matt Damon picks up a machine gun and BAM! — nonstop action movie.

I liked it…but I wanted to love it!

Oh, well.

In other news, are you rising and shining today? I plan to, just as soon as I get some coffee in me. Oh, sweet nectar of the gods, how I look forward to our morning meetings… 🙂

Good luck in this weekend’s giveaway. There’s a $50 Sephora eGift card on the table, and this week it closes on Monday instead of Sunday because I was a little late getting started.

Talk to you soon. Maybe I’ll see you on Twitter or Facebook today.

• One (1) Sephora eGift card containing $50 sent to the winner by email (international readers, you may opt to receive $50 sent by PayPal instead).

• Enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.
• Open to U.S. and international readers.
• You must be 18 or older to enter (or otherwise an adult based on your local laws).
• Your comment can be about anything at all, but here are some ideas if you’re stuck: Your favorite concealer/color corrector? Have you ever purchased makeup on eBay before? Do you belong to any beauty product subscription services like Birchbox? What’s the most exciting thing you have planned this weekend? Have you attended any weddings this year? What’s your very favorite t-shirt? — you get the picture.
• You can enter in up to seven ways to boost your chances of winning.
• The giveaway ends on Monday, August 26, 2013 at 11:59 PM (Pacific Time).
• Full terms and conditions are available in the widget.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Saturday salutations and greetings, my friend! Up and at ’em. There’s coffee to be had, husky tabbies to be loved and lip glosses to be worn.

Oh, and Sephora giveaways to be entered. 🙂

You know how we do it around here.

• One (1) Sephora eGift card containing $50 sent to the winner by email (international readers, you may opt to receive $50 sent by PayPal instead).

• Enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.
• Open to U.S. and international readers.
• You must be 18 or older to enter (or otherwise an adult based on your local laws).
• Your comment can be about anything at all, but here are some ideas if you’re stuck: Describe your favorite pair of pajamas. What kind of fruit do you like in your fruit salads? What’s your go-to nude lipstick? How often do you highlight and contour your face? What’s your favorite foundation formula (liquid, stick, cream, powder) and why? If you could move anywhere in the world, where would you go? — you get the picture.
• You can enter in up to seven ways to boost your chances of winning.
• The giveaway ends on Sunday, August 11, 2013 at 11:59 PM (Pacific Time).
• Full terms and conditions are available in the widget.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

The coffee’s brewing, there’s a husky tabby purring on my lap, I’m wearing stretchy pants, and I’m about to organize my blush drawer, starting with these True Hue ones from Buxom, which are fab!

It doesn’t get any better than this. 🙂

I’m serious! I’m excited about just staying home this weekend and catching up on some cleaning.

I really am my mother’s daughter, LOL!

And while we’re on the subject of excitement, how does a $50 shopping spree to Sephora sound?

That’s right, babe, it’s giveaway time, because I love ya THIS MUCH!

• One (1) Sephora eGift card containing $50 sent to the winner by email (international readers, you may opt to receive $50 sent by PayPal instead).

• Enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.
• Open to U.S. and international readers.
• You must be 18 or older to enter (or otherwise an adult based on your local laws).
• Your comment can be about anything at all, but here are some ideas if you’re stuck: When was the last time you went to Sephora? What does your alarm clock sound like in the morning (literally or metaphorically)? What’s your favorite game? Do you wear a watch? Do you ever listen to audiobooks? What shortcuts do you use to finish your eye makeup quicker?
• You can enter in up to seven ways to boost your chances of winning.
• The giveaway ends on Sunday, August 4, 2013 at 11:59 PM (Pacific Time).
• Full terms and conditions are available in the widget.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Congrats to Nicole for winning last weekend’s $50 prize with her comment, “I am obsessed with Josie Maran Argan Cleansing Oil! Highly recommend!” I got your email, Nicole! I’ll follow up with you soon.

Rise and shine from Redding! We’re packing up and getting ready to drive back to the Bay Area.

I might not even empty out my suitcase when we get home, though, because I’m taking another trip next week, that one down to Venice Beach in Southern California to visit the headquarters of Hourglass Cosmetics…also known as one of my favorite brands at Sephora.

Okay, well, I should at least unpack my dirty clothes and leave my suitcase open for a few minutes to let Tabs sit in there and chill. (It’s up to him. This is “The Tabs Show” after all, and I’m just a bit player.)

Speaking of Sephora, can I just say how thrilled I was when they started carrying Bumble & Bumble?

Back before they started carrying it, I had to hunt and gather across the great plains of Novato to find my favorite Bumble products. It’s kind of comforting knowing now that when I run out of my B&B must-haves, I just have to make it to the closest Sephora.

Win this weekend’s $50 Sephora e-gift card giveaway, and then shake your tail feathers on down to your closest Sephora to snag bottles of Bumble’s Gentle Shampoo, Super Rich Conditioner, Color Minded Styling Balm and/or Brilliantine. I literally don’t leave home without ’em. Highly recommended.

Have a great one today. I’ll catch up with you soon.

• One (1) Sephora eGift card containing $50 sent to the winner by email (international readers, you may opt to receive $50 sent by PayPal instead).

• Enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.
• Open to U.S. and international readers.
• You must be 18 or older to enter (or otherwise an adult based on your local laws).
• Your comment can be about anything at all, but here are some ideas if you’re stuck: What color lipstick would go well with a rose blush? What’s a good face wash for someone with sensitive skin? What’s your favorite eyeshadow? Are you having a good time? Have you done any traveling so far this summer? Have you ever been to South America?
• You can enter in up to seven ways to boost your chances of winning.
• The giveaway ends on Sunday, July 28, 2013 at 11:59 PM (Pacific Time).
• Full terms and conditions are available in the widget.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Less than a week to go in Makeup and Beauty Blog’s Massive MAC Giveaway. Get your entries in for the $258 goodie bag of all-star MAC magic morsels before it’s too late!

Hey, babe. Happy caturday. 🙂

I hope you slept well and had a nice night. Whatever you’ve got going on this weekend, please tell me there’s at least a little room for fun (and maybe some makeup, too).

I’m still down in La Jolla until tomorrow, so Tabs is holding down the MBB fort. He’s also in charge of this weekend’s Sephora giveaway and even came up with the questions below.

Good luck, and I’ll talk to you soon.

• One (1) Sephora eGift card containing $50 sent to the winner by email (international readers, you may opt to receive $50 sent by PayPal instead).

• Enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.
• Open to U.S. and international readers.
• You must be 18 or older to enter (or otherwise an adult based on your local laws).
• Your comment can be about anything at all, but here are some ideas if you’re stuck: Why are cats so awesome? What’s your favorite feline YouTube video/animated gif/cat cartoon or comic? Have you ever known a kitty supermodel more photogenic than Tabs? How do you do your cat liner (products and technique)? How many breeds of cat can you name? What are you wearing on your paws/claws?
• You can enter in up to seven ways to boost your chances of winning.
• The giveaway ends on Sunday, July 21, 2013 at 11:59 PM (Pacific Time).
• Full terms and conditions are available in the widget.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. We’re getting down to the wire on Makeup and Beauty Blog’s Massive MAC Giveaway. If you haven’t entered that one yet, don’t forget.

WINNER: The giveaway is closed now, and the winner is Tha Winx! Congratulations, Tha Winx! If you entered but didn’t win this time around, keep trying, and click here to enter any ongoing giveaways before you jet. 🙂

Two of my favorite things: Starbucks and Sephora.

Starbucks. Don’t ask me why because I’m not really sure, but last night El Hub and I watched three hours of a Real Housewives of Beverly Hills marathon, which was actually a lot of fun, except that it kept us up way past midnight, but we told ourselves that we were going to get Starbucks this morning, “Because we’re grownups like that, and we can get Starbucks if we want to.”

And we do. 🙂

So now I’m getting ready to go get my caffeine on, haaay! And I’m so excited! I can’t stop using exclamation marks!

And Sephora. Of course you knew this one already, but Sephora is one of the greatest stores on this or any planet, and here in Novato it’s conveniently located in the very same Vintage Oaks shopping center as the closest Starbucks.

Unfortunately, it’s still too early in the morning and the Sephora is closed.

Grrr… Universe: 1. Karen: 0.

(First world problems.)

Looks like I’ll have to wait a few hours to get my Sephora fix, but you won’t have to. You can get yours right now in this giveaway.

This is how we do it! Dum dum-dum dum-dum-dum — this is how we do it!

• One (1) Sephora eGift card containing $50 sent to the winner by email (international readers, you may opt to receive $50 sent by PayPal instead).

• Enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.
• Open to U.S. and international readers.
• You must be 18 or older to enter (or otherwise an adult based on your local laws).
• Your comment can be about anything at all, but here are some ideas if you’re stuck: What’s your favorite snack/drink at Starbucks? Have you ever worked at a restaurant? Manual or electric toothbrush? Best YouTube makeup tutorial you’ve ever seen? Scrunchies, hair ties or clips (or all of the above)? In a dessert island scenario, as the ship is sinking, do you grab the bottle of sunscreen or the pocket knife? Who makes your favorite lip balm?
• You can enter in up to seven ways to boost your chances of winning.
• The giveaway ends on Sunday, July 14, 2013 at 11:59 PM (Pacific Time).
• Full terms and conditions are available in the widget.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Just in case you’re the one person left this side of Reno who hasn’t entered Makeup and Beauty Blog’s Massive MAC Giveaway, do it! Someone’s gotta win, so why not you?

WINNER: The giveaway is closed now, and the winner is Tha Winx! Congratulations, Tha Winx! If you entered but didn’t win this time around, keep trying, and click here to enter any ongoing giveaways before you jet. 🙂