Giveaways

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

Betcha didn’t know that Tabs spends his downtime training as a ninja for an undisclosed employer. There are so many facets to this cat! I can’t believe I’ve been assisting him since 2007, and I only found this out today.

Yeah, he keeps secrets…

Anywho, good morning and happy Caturday!

Can I get an amen for 1) those rare, sweet Tabs pics (please see above) and 2) last-minute plans that actually work out?

Yesterday afternoon, I was thinking that I haven’t gone out on a Friday night in so long with a girlfriend, so I emailed one of my high school BFFs, Cindy, and asked her if she wanted to catch dinner and a movie. She didn’t have any plans either, so we decided to have a last-minute girls’ night out.

We met at a restaurant in Corte Madera, which is in Southern Marin, called Brick & Bottle. A few of the noms…

Ahi tartare

Fried brie with honey and grapes (whoever invented fried cheese deserves a national holiday, for reals)

My main dish: sole with dungeness crab mashed potatoes

After dinner, we watched Warm Bodies, the teenage zombie love story I’ve been “dying” to see ever since I read the book last year. I don’t want to spoil it for you in case you plan to watch it, but I think it was very true to the original work.

As for today, not much planned. El Hub’s visiting his parents, so Tabs and I are holding down the fort here at home. I should probably do some cleaning, but really, all I want to do is nap and relax. Maybe go to the mall and look at some makeup if I can get out of these stretchy pants. We’ll see how it pans out.

What’s on your agenda? Whatever it is, I hope you manage to clear some time in your schedule to treat yourself to something nice, even if it’s just 10 minutes of “me time” at Starbucks with a cup of coffee.

Before you head on out, though, it’s time for the weekend giveaway. 🙂

What folks are saying…

“Hi Karen!!! Wow, that news definitely gets a hoo ray ray and an elephant!!! (I’ve maybe been watching too much Boardwalk Empire.) Thank you so much!!!”
-Shana

“What a lovely surprise it was to see your announcement (after completing one of many exams/papers/projects I have this crazy week)! The eCard will definitely ease expenses for this broke, beauty-obsessed college student. Thank you, Karen and Tabs!!”
-Katie

“Thanks so much, Karen. Just in case you were wondering what I got with it, I decided to go with the Clarisonic Mia–I’ve been wanting it for years now, but have never purchased it because of the price. Your eCard helped me finally buy it! I look forward to using it. Thanks again!”
-Jane

“Shut the front door! OMG Karen, you have made my day. 🙂 I’m sick in bed with the flu and this has just cheered me up immensely!!!!!!!! BTW, I’m the one that sent you that pic of my pug in a wig a few weeks back LOL! Thanks again, honestly, I’m beyond giddy right now.”
-Angel

“Thank you SO much Karen! OMG! Wishes really do come true! I can’t believe I won! You have no idea how much this will help me through the holidays. I’ve been an avid fan of your blog for the past two years. Your witty and creative entries, informative makeup information, and beautiful photos have kept me hooked. I look forward to more of it. Goodness, you’ve
seriously just made my week and it’s only Tuesday night!”
-Zharlynne

“Oh my goodness! Thank you so much Karen (and Tabs, of course)! I really appreciate this! I’d been eyeing the Anastasia brow pencil in Strawburn to match my red hair!”
-Chelsea (and Jiji the kitten and Quincy the bunny)

• 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).

• There are two ways to enter, 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, a comment about anything at all, like, what toys does your pet like to play with? What’s your favorite type of dessert? Have you ever tried doing nail art? What counters do you visit when you go to the beauty department? Have you ever done makeup for any of your friends or family? What lipstick makes you feel like a million bucks? What’s your favorite way to spend a Saturday afternoon? — you get the idea.
• Second, you can enter by following me on Twitter @karenmbb and retweeting (RT) the following message:
  • Follow @karenmbb and RT to Win a $50 eGift Card from Sephora! http://bit.ly/UdzpjA

• The deadline to enter is Sunday, February 3, 2013 at 11:59PM (PT).
• Entrants must enter using a valid email address and/or Twitter account to win.
• A maximum of two (2) entries per person — one within the comments at the bottom of this post, and a second entry via Twitter addressed to me @karenmbb.
• Contest is open to individuals of any country who have reached the age of majority according to their local laws (18 in the United States with these exceptions: Alabama and Nebraska, 19; Mississippi, 21).
• Sephora eGift Certificates can only be redeemed online and are not valid in stores or available for purchase or redemption in Canada. International winners may opt to substitute the Sephora eGift card prize for $50 sent directly to their email address by PayPal instead.
• Tabs and I (heretofore referred to as “T-Money and K-Dawg”) will select one (1) winner at random from the entries either left in the comments at the bottom of this blog post or addressed to @karenmbb on Twitter.
• The winner will be announced here within 48 hours of the deadline.
• Void where prohibited by law.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

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

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

Rise and shine? Confused today am I. Talking like Yoda I am. Kind of out of it this morning I feel.

LOL! I made myself laugh… 🙂

What a busy week! Today I just want to chill out, unwind, relax, watch some brainless television, catch up on my magazines, and maybe go see that new Guillermo del Toro movie, Mama.

I love del Toro’s style. He’s one of my favorite storytellers, and dang! — that guy knows how to make some scary-@ss monsters (have you seen the trailer for this?).

Pan’s Labyrinth? A classic!

In other news, well, I have no other news. Tabs is off sleeping somewhere… I don’t see him here in the living room, so I guess he’s somewhere upstairs, probably at the spa, also known as the bathroom sink. I’m just chillin’ on the couch with my laptop.

Good luck in this weekend’s Sephora eCard giveaway. Details to enter are down below.

Talk to you soon.

What folks are saying…

“Hi Karen!!! Wow, that news definitely gets a hoo ray ray and an elephant!!! (I’ve maybe been watching too much Boardwalk Empire.) Thank you so much!!!”
-Shana

“What a lovely surprise it was to see your announcement (after completing one of many exams/papers/projects I have this crazy week)! The eCard will definitely ease expenses for this broke, beauty-obsessed college student. Thank you, Karen and Tabs!!”
-Katie

“Thanks so much, Karen. Just in case you were wondering what I got with it, I decided to go with the Clarisonic Mia–I’ve been wanting it for years now, but have never purchased it because of the price. Your eCard helped me finally buy it! I look forward to using it. Thanks again!”
-Jane

“Shut the front door! OMG Karen, you have made my day. 🙂 I’m sick in bed with the flu and this has just cheered me up immensely!!!!!!!! BTW, I’m the one that sent you that pic of my pug in a wig a few weeks back LOL! Thanks again, honestly, I’m beyond giddy right now.”
-Angel

“Thank you SO much Karen! OMG! Wishes really do come true! I can’t believe I won! You have no idea how much this will help me through the holidays. I’ve been an avid fan of your blog for the past two years. Your witty and creative entries, informative makeup information, and beautiful photos have kept me hooked. I look forward to more of it. Goodness, you’ve
seriously just made my week and it’s only Tuesday night!”
-Zharlynne

“Oh my goodness! Thank you so much Karen (and Tabs, of course)! I really appreciate this! I’d been eyeing the Anastasia brow pencil in Strawburn to match my red hair!”
-Chelsea (and Jiji the kitten and Quincy the bunny)

• 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).

• There are two ways to enter, 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, a comment about anything at all, like, have you ever dressed in costume for a convention or conference (cosplay)? Who’s your favorite movie director? What was your most daring makeup look this week? What was the last drugstore beauty product you purchased, and how did it work out? What are you up to this weekend? Does anyone else in your family wear more makeup than you do? Favorite comic book or graphic novel? — you get the idea.
• Second, you can enter by following me on Twitter @karenmbb and retweeting (RT) the following message:
  • Follow @karenmbb and RT to Win a $50 eGift Card from Sephora! http://bit.ly/WZGBtW

• The deadline to enter is Sunday, January 27, 2013 at 11:59PM (PT).
• Entrants must enter using a valid email address and/or Twitter account to win.
• A maximum of two (2) entries per person — one within the comments at the bottom of this post, and a second entry via Twitter addressed to me @karenmbb.
• Contest is open to individuals of any country who have reached the age of majority according to their local laws (18 in the United States with these exceptions: Alabama and Nebraska, 19; Mississippi, 21).
• Sephora eGift Certificates can only be redeemed online and are not valid in stores or available for purchase or redemption in Canada. International winners may opt to substitute the Sephora eGift card prize for $50 sent directly to their email address by PayPal instead.
• Tabs and I (heretofore referred to as “T-Money and K-Dawg”) will select one (1) winner at random from the entries either left in the comments at the bottom of this blog post or addressed to @karenmbb on Twitter.
• The winner will be announced here within 48 hours of the deadline.
• Void where prohibited by law.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

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

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

I can totally picture my little tabby Jedi fighting alongside Yoda against the Separatist droid forces… 🙂

So how’s it going this morning? Are you coming down from the whir of the holidays? I’m still kind of in that buzzing mode. I have to run to the mall a little later today, and I’m wondering what the crowds are gonna be like. I hope they aren’t too out of control.

Oh, guess what I’ve been doing lately? About a week ago I started re-watching the entire series run of The Hills on Netflix. I’m almost finished with season three, when everything pretty much revolves around the Spencer/Heidi/LC/Audrina/Lo maelstrom of melodrama.

I get so sad watching Heidi get caught up in everything and how she’s totally manipulated by Spencer… Like El Hub always says, “That guy really needs to get his @ss kicked.”

Anywho, I hope you have a good weekend. Here’s a Sephora eGift card giveaway to move things along. 🙂

What folks are saying…

“What a lovely surprise it was to see your announcement (after completing one of many exams/papers/projects I have this crazy week)! The eCard will definitely ease expenses for this broke, beauty-obsessed college student. Thank you, Karen and Tabs!!”
-Katie

“Thanks so much, Karen. Just in case you were wondering what I got with it, I decided to go with the Clarisonic Mia–I’ve been wanting it for years now, but have never purchased it because of the price. Your eCard helped me finally buy it! I look forward to using it. Thanks again!”
-Jane

“Shut the front door! OMG Karen, you have made my day. 🙂 I’m sick in bed with the flu and this has just cheered me up immensely!!!!!!!! BTW, I’m the one that sent you that pic of my pug in a wig a few weeks back LOL! Thanks again, honestly, I’m beyond giddy right now.”
-Angel

“Thank you SO much Karen! OMG! Wishes really do come true! I can’t believe I won! You have no idea how much this will help me through the holidays. I’ve been an avid fan of your blog for the past two years. Your witty and creative entries, informative makeup information, and beautiful photos have kept me hooked. I look forward to more of it. Goodness, you’ve
seriously just made my week and it’s only Tuesday night!”
-Zharlynne

“Oh my goodness! Thank you so much Karen (and Tabs, of course)! I really appreciate this! I’d been eyeing the Anastasia brow pencil in Strawburn to match my red hair!”
-Chelsea (and Jiji the kitten and Quincy the bunny)

“Hi Karen. Thank you so much, I’m so excited, I’ve never won anything before. My name is Hana … I just turned 25 (today is my birthday!) Yay! Thank you.”
-Hana

• 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).

• There are two ways to enter, 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, a comment about anything at all, like, what’s your favorite one of the Star Wars movies? Do you take your pets to get groomed? Do you curl your lashes, or are they naturally curly? Do you like oatmeal? Have you been exercising over the holidays? Do you have a favorite chair? Did you give any beauty gifts this year? — you get the idea.
• Second, you can enter by following me on Twitter @karenmbb and retweeting (RT) the following message:
  • Follow @karenmbb and RT to Win a $50 eGift Card from Sephora! http://bit.ly/Vo8krE

• The deadline to enter is Sunday, December 30, 2012 at 11:59PM (PT).
• Entrants must enter using a valid email address and/or Twitter account to win.
• A maximum of two (2) entries per person — one within the comments at the bottom of this post, and a second entry via Twitter addressed to me @karenmbb.
• Contest is open to individuals of any country who have reached the age of majority according to their local laws (18 in the United States with these exceptions: Alabama and Nebraska, 19; Mississippi, 21).
• Sephora eGift Certificates can only be redeemed online and are not valid in stores or available for purchase or redemption in Canada. International winners may opt to substitute the Sephora eGift card prize for $50 sent directly to their email address by PayPal instead.
• Tabs and I (heretofore referred to as “T-Money and K-Dawg”) will select one (1) winner at random from the entries either left in the comments at the bottom of this blog post or addressed to @karenmbb on Twitter.
• The winner will be announced here within 48 hours of the deadline.
• Void where prohibited by law.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

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