Just For Fun

7 Ways to Win a $50 eGift Card From Sephora! (Ends Monday)

March 29th, 2014 by Karen 378 Comments

It’s that time again! Rise and shine, pal o’ mine. Happy caturday! 🙂

Goodness, it’s raining cats and frogs here this morning, and it looks like it rained all night. I have absolutely no problems with that, mind you, because the rain makes everything greener.

What did you do last night? Did you see any movies, go out to dinner, play any games? El Hub and I were going to go out to dinner or something but opted for pasta at home and a rental instead.

Uh…I watched Catching Fire. Again. For the third time.

I know! But I just love that movie (and the first Hunger Games) so much.

As for Divergent, well, it didn’t really do anything for me. To each her own, though, ya know what I mean? That one just wasn’t my cup o’ tea.

I hope you do something fun this weekend. If the weather cooperates, get out there and enjoy it.

Good luck in this weekend’s giveaway, and don’t forget about The Walking Dead Twitter party Sunday night. I’d love to see you there.

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:
- How many times have you been overseas?
- What’s the name of your favorite park, and where is it?
- What’s the best toothpaste?
- Where do you want to go today?
- Do you have a favorite coffee shop or cafe?
- Are you happy with your current makeup storage system?
- Describe your favorite cup or mug.
- What’s the best BB cream?
You can enter in up to seven ways to boost your chances of winning.
The giveaway ends on Monday, March 31, 2014 at 11:59 PM (Pacific Time).
Full terms and conditions are available in the widget.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Comment To Win $150 in Mariah Carey Fragrances for Mimi’s Birthday (TWO WINNERS)

March 27th, 2014 by Karen 114 Comments

Congrats to the winners of this giveaway, Katie and Amoure Jones!

Mariah Carey Dream Fragrance — Mariah Carey’s newest Fragrance, Dreams, available now at Walgreens

I may have mentioned once or twice (or 10 times) that I’m unabashedly Team MC (says the girl who saw Glitter on opening day, LOL!).

Today is actually Mariah’s birthday (HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MIMI!), so I thought it might be fun to host a giveaway featuring my favorite diva’s latest scent, Mariah Carey Dreams, which has notes of bergamot, salted caramel apple, toasted almonds, star anise, freesia, honeysuckle, muguet, tonka bean, Madagascar vanilla, patchouli and warm musk. You can find it now at Walgreens.

Two (2) lucky ladies and/or gents will win a prize package valued at $149.49 including…

Mariah Carey Dreams Hair Mist ($9.99)
Mariah Carey Dreams 1.7 oz Eau de Parfum ($49)
M by Mariah Carey 3.3 oz Eau de Parfum ($62.50)
M by Mariah Carey Moisturizing Body Lotion ($28)

All ya have to do is leave a comment below to enter, and your comment can be about anything at all (like how you feel about selfies, whether Divergent was as good as it could/should have been, what you want for your birthday, what you’re doing this weekend — anything). It’s that easy!

Enter by leaving a comment below. The deadline to enter is Friday, March 28, 2014 at 11:59 PM (Pacific). Entrants must enter using a valid email address to win. Contest is open to individuals in the United States 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). Tabs and I (heretofore referred to as “T-Money and K-Dawg”) will select two (2) winners at random from the entries left in the comments at the bottom of this blog post. Void where prohibited by law.

Good luck!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Congrats to the winners of this giveaway, Katie and Amoure Jones!

On a Scale of 1-10, With 1 Being Neutral Glitter and 10 Being Bright and Colorful Glitter, Where Do You Fall?

March 26th, 2014 by Karen 41 Comments

Wearing Urban Decay's Glitter Liner in Midnight Cowboy on my lids — Ride ’em cowboy! — Urban Decay Glitter Liner in Midnight Cowboy, that is.

Well, let’s see… What a thought provoking question, LOL!

I definitely do love bright, colorful glitter (pinks, purples, blues, greens) on my nails, but I think I’m more of a neutral glitter gal when it comes to my eyes. I loves me some gold glitter, especially on my lids.

I guess I fall somewhere in the middle, like a 5 or 6.

Your turn! 🙂 On a scale of 1-10, with 1 being neutral glitter and 10 being bright and colorful glitter, where do you fall? Inquiring minds want to know…

While we’re at it, feel free to share any gorgeous glitter recs.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Happy hump day, babe (or dude).

The Walking Dead-MBB Twitter Party This Sunday Night, March 30!

March 26th, 2014 by Karen 33 Comments

Pretty sure that after Z-Day I will become zombie-fied fairly quickly… WATCH OUT, HUMANS! ZOMBIE KAREN IS ALWAYS STARVED FOR BRAAAAAINS!

The Walking Dead season finale is this Sunday night, and I’m am so, SO EXCITED! Like, so excited that I may just batten down the hatches at home that entire day so that nothing short of the actual zombie apocalypse could possibly cause me to miss the show.

Season 4 has been OFF THE FRICKIN’ HOOK, and I’m pretty sure the final episode will leave me with some mental scarring that will indubitably require extensive makeup therapy.

I was thinking (uh, oh!), we should do a Twitter party during the finale! I’ll be on Twitter when the show airs this Sunday night, March 30, at 6:00 p.m. Pacific (so I think it airs at 9 p.m. East Coast) live-tweeting as events unfold…

What’s the deal with Terminus?
What happened to Beth?
Why doesn’t Daryl love me anymore??

Perhaps we’ll get answers to these questions and more…

Join me! Just include hashtag #zombiebeautylove in your tweets.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

How Confident Are You in Your Blending Skills?

March 25th, 2014 by Karen 32 Comments

Laura Mercier Artist's Palette 2013 — A super-blended, blown-out eye look with the Laura Mercier Artist’s Palette for Eyes

I feel like I do OK when it comes to looks that I’m very comfortable with. If it’s something smokey or super blown-out, I think what I end up with is not completely hideous.

But I definitely feel like I have A LOT of room to grow, because I tend to over-blend (I JUST CAN’T STOP!), which makes things like cut-crease looks very challenging.

At least with makeup, the practicing is fun. 🙂

What about you? How confident are you in your blending skills?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Just in case no one has told you yet today, you’re wonderful, and don’t you forget it.

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 315

March 24th, 2014 by Karen 41 Comments

That's me gardening! — Planting more tomatoes for my deck garden

You might be wondering, “So what the heck is this Monday Poll thing anyway?”

Well, it isn’t much of a poll. It’s more just a constantly evolving (devolving?), somewhat random list of questions I’ve been putting out to readers every Monday morning for the past seven years. I’ve always enjoyed reading your answers in the comments, and I hope you enjoy reading mine.

Who wants to be a mermaid princess?
Who doesn’t want to be a mermaid princess? You’re crazy if you say no to this. 🙂

Mermaid princess — This is Mermaid Princess Abbie, the daughter of my friend Tiffany. Isn’t she the cutest?

What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done in pursuit of a dream?
One of my dreams for a long time was to not be so afraid of the ocean, ’cause I was not a strong swimmer at all (I was even afraid in swimming pools if I couldn’t touch the bottom). I was like that until my early 20s, when I was looking through a magazine one day and read about women who surfed. I thought to myself, “I really want to do that.”

So I took a swimming class, joined a gym with a pool, and swam two times a week for six months. Then my good friend Cindy and I attended a week-long surf camp down in San Diego, and by the time we left, I was a surfer and was much more comfortable in the water.

When was the last time you went to Portland?
I think it was 10 years ago? I hope to go back soon so I can put a bird on it (“Put a bird on it!”). I ask because one of my friends is visiting there now.

When was the last time you were stranded somewhere?
Apparently it’s been a while because I’m having trouble remembering, LOL!

I think it was in the ’90s when I was going to school in Davis. I went to the mall and wasn’t really paying attention to the bus schedule, so I ended up not having a ride home. I just remember being in front of Macy’s with a bunch of ruffians thinking, “How the hell did I get myself into this situation?”

Do you like going to live sporting events?
Only if I don’t have to pay attention, and if there’s hella beer and garlic fries.

Share an inspiring quote that you like.
“You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.” – Max Ehrmann, from Desiderata.

Do you gush over babies?
When they’re smiling and wearing cute outfits. 🙂

In what decade were you a teenager?
In the ’90s. Oughh! And it was rough. I would have killed to have beauty blogs and YouTube back then.

What’s one piece of furniture you’d like to replace in your home?
I hate my freaking dresser drawers in my bedroom, and I’ve hated them since the day I brought them home something like 12 years ago (I got it cheap off of Craigslist).

It’s in my nature to be…
I don’t know… It’s in my nature to be a worrywart.

BONUS! Have you ever had a bedroom with wallpaper?
No, ’cause my parents were weird and only believed in white walls, but my best friend had Strawberry Shortcake wallpaper, and every single time I’d go to her house to play I was wracked with Strawberry Shortcake jealousy.

Now it’s your turn. Just copy and paste the following questions into a comment with your answers. I look forward to reading ’em! 🙂

1. Who wants to be a mermaid princess?
2. What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done in pursuit of a dream?
3. When was the last time you went to Portland?
4. When was the last time you were stranded somewhere?
5. Do you like going to live sporting events?
6. Share an inspiring quote that you like.
7. Do you gush over babies?
8. In what decade were you a teenager?
9. What’s one piece of furniture you’d like to replace in your home?
10. It’s in my nature to be…
11. BONUS! Have you ever had a bedroom with wallpaper?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Monday doesn’t stand a chance against us. Greatness awaits!

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 288

March 23rd, 2014 by Karen 12 Comments

You may not be able to tell because of his Rubenesque physique, but Tabs leads a very active kitty lifestyle. He kayaks, stand-up paddles — actually, he even volunteers as a cheerleading coach for underprivileged kitties; he’s also an experienced tumbler.

He does not just sit around and have me hand-feed him kitty treats. Oh, no! In fact, now that the days are getting longer and the weather’s getting nicer, he’s already preparing for his spring and summer activities, which include whitewater rafting.

He’s an incredibly busy kitty, but that doesn’t stop him from getting sh*t done. He’s still at the top of his modeling game, like this week, he worked on ad campaigns for Covercat, Kerastase, NYC, NYX and Urban Decay.

If you’re interested, here are the latest pics from his kitty modeling portfolio. 🙂

Who is Tabs the Cat?
About seven years ago I befriended a stray, flea-bitten tabby cat with a bad case of worms. I could see he’d fallen on hard times, but his profound knowledge of high fashion and department store cosmetics led me to believe that he was more than meets the eye. We became fast friends, and now he’s actually my boss (and a successful kitty model).

[Continue reading…]

7 Ways to Win a $50 eGift Card From Sephora! (Ends Monday)

March 22nd, 2014 by Karen 372 Comments

Rise and shine, pal o’ mine! It’s caturday. Do you know where your tubby tabby is?

No, really — do you know where Tabs is? Because I have know where he is right now. He usually gets up with me to beg for treats and lurvies, but I haven’t seen him this morning. He’s probably brooding somewhere, as cats are wont to do…

How was your sleeps? Did you have any good dreams?

I remember having one about…something.

There was a baseball stadium involved, and I was working at a booth in the stadium promenade selling tchotchkes of some kind, although I can’t remember what they were right now… They might have been those big foam fingers. I’m not sure though. I just remember everything in the dream being very, very important, LOL!

In other news, cleaning today. I don’t want to, but I have to. I really have to straighten up my office because it’s getting to the point where I can’t walk from the door to the chair at my desk. After that, who knows? Maybe some deck gardening.

I picked up some cat grass seeds for Tabs and some radish seeds for El Hub this week, and I want to plant those.

Good luck in this weekend’s giveaway. 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:
- What was the last thing you looked for online?
- What’s one habit you’d like to have (or a habit you’d like to break)?
- What are you wearing on your nails?
- What’s at the top of your wish list (beauty or otherwise) right now?
- What was the name of your middle school?
- Do you believe in life on other planets?
You can enter in up to seven ways to boost your chances of winning.
The giveaway ends on Monday, March 24, 2014 at 11:59 PM (Pacific Time).
Full terms and conditions are available in the widget.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen