Just For Fun

1. Mood:

I woke up a little groggy, but I’ve been doing this thing lately where I drink 16 ounces of water first thing, and it really seems to put the pep in my step. I read that the body dehydrates a lot overnight. Yay, water!

Hardly anyone drank the H-2-ohhh for health reasons back in the ’80s… We must’ve all been walking around like zombies!

2. Last compliment you received?

“You’re too cute to be this stressed out.”

3. What do you think of drugstore makeup?

A lot of it is awesome, but there’s some junk out there too.

Drugstores are great for experimenting without breaking the bank, and they make it easy (affordable) to get on kicks, like my current one for Rimmel and their lipsticks, mascaras and blushes.

4. Are you a worrywart?

Sometimes, but I don’t worry half as much as I used to — that’s for sure. For me what helps is remembering not to obsess/stress over the things I can’t control.

5. Eyes/lips/cheeks:

Just Clarins Multi-Active Day Early Correction Cream sunscreen for now, but I think I might try a blue and pink MAC To The Beach look in a few minutes.

6. What are some questions we should we ask in the next Monday Poll?

Hmm… Any ideas? Maybe something both revealing and strange?

7. What was the last big life change you experienced?

Buying the condo last year. Talk about difficult! Oh, and there’s another one coming around the corner like a semi truck — I’m turning 35 in a few weeks. 🙂

8. What was the last movie you recommended to a friend?

Brothers

9. Outfit:

Today I’m all about being comfy, so I’m sporting my best black yoga pants, brown tank top and black v-neck sweater.

10. Weekly goals:

Try to get in some reading every day, and remember to always focus on the positive.

Bonjour, beautiful. 🙂 Tabs has been doing the funniest thing in the mornings lately. He discovered how much fun it is to make the bed, so he’ll follow me from corner to corner, attacking the duvet and pillows. It’s hilarious!

Before you fire up those spirit fingers for Monday, come say hi in the Monday Poll. You know the drill. Just copy the list below, and paste it with your answers in the comments.

Studies show that the Monday Poll enhances mood and creativity… Okay, well, maybe, but at least it’s fun!

Le list

1. Mood:
2. Last compliment you received?
3. What do you think of drugstore makeup?
4. Are you a worrywart?
5. Eyes/lips/cheeks:
6. What question(s) would you like to see in the Monday Poll?
7. What was the last big life change you experienced?
8. What was the last movie you recommended to a friend?
9. Outfit:
10. Weekly goals:

Together, you and I can whip ye olde Monday in the bum. Take that, Monday! Take it!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Nelson
-noun

1. an early-1990s glam metal band founded by long-lock’d brothers Matthew and Gunnar Nelson.

2. a hold in which pressure is applied to the head, back of the neck, and one or both arms of the opponent.

Talk about enviable hair… Imagine how much conditioner those boys must have gone through, oy!

This morning I was listening to the catchy but oh-so-cheesy After the Rain:

“After the rain washes away the tears and all the pain — only after the rain, you’ll love again.”

True, true…

Should I be embarrassed to admit how much that song moves me?

Or this one?

Or how about this one?

The last two were written by songwriter Diane Warren. On the surface they might seem like they’re about romantic love, but I’ve read where Diane says How Do I Live is actually about her relationship to her music, and Because You Loved Me was an ode to her dad and how he supported her artistic dreams.

I’m not sure where I’m going with this… 🙂

So besides listening to a lot of music this weekend (it’s my therapy), I managed to also sneak in a movie that turned out to be amazing. Brothers? Starring Tobey Maguire, Jake Gyllenhaal and Natalie Portman? LOVED IT SO MUCH! Tobey and Jake play brothers in the film. While Tobey’s character goes off to war, his brother, the troublemaker in the family, is left to live in his gigantic shadow.

I’d forgotten just how great an actor Tobey is. Guy’s got MAD acting chops. I can’t believe he wasn’t at least nominated for a statue.

If you’ve seen any films that you’ve really enjoyed lately, let me know, okay? I’m a total movie buff.

Now, on to the Open Thread! Basically, the Open Thread is a place to just chat and shoot the shizz in the comments. You can ask or answer questions — beauty or otherwise — or share whatever’s on your mind.

See you soon. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

• The giveaway is now closed; congrats to the winner, Liza! Before you go, check the home page for ongoing giveaways.

I finally got over my Justin Bieber fever only to catch a bout of MAC To The Beach (GREAT!).

Sorry, I can’t stop saying Justin Bieber fever. 🙂

(Justin Bieber fever, Justin Bieber fever, Justin Bieber fever…)

MAC’s newest summer collection doesn’t have anything to do with teenage Canadian pop stars, but it has been sparking fevers here at MBB headquarters.

And the fever’s spreading fast! If you comment on this weekend’s giveaway, you might catch it, too.

The prize

One lucky lady will win MAC Hipness Blush, a gorgeous coral powder blush in limited edition packaging from the MAC To The Beach collection (a $19 value).

For more on the MAC To The Beach Collection…

• MAC To The Beach: My Summery Saturday Face of the Day
• MAC To The Beach: What Are You Wearing On Your Nails?
• MAC To The Beach: Breaking Waves and Hearts
• MAC To The Beach: Swatches!
• MAC To The Beach: Product Pictures
• This Summer MAC’s Taking It To The Beach

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, a comment about anything at all! List your TV guilty pleasures, share the name of your new favorite hair product, or dish about your secret crush at work — whatever’s on your mind.

My weekend took a great turn this afternoon. I just got back from getting my hair done (highlights and a cut! — see below), and I feel like singing and dancing. 🙂 Ahh, fresh roots…

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

Follow @karenmbb and RT to Win MAC To The Beach Hipness Blush http://bit.ly/c0Ly5j

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:
   
   Follow @karenmbb and RT to Win MAC To The Beach Hipness Blush http://bit.ly/c0Ly5j

I’ll pick the winner at random from among the people who enter by 11:59 p.m. PST on Monday, May 17.

सौभाग्य!!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. I couldn’t resist sharing pics of my new hair! I got a cut AND color (went a little lighter with the highlights since it’s summer). The stylist didn’t take much off the length and mostly just cleaned up the layers.

OH! Bay Area girls (and guys), if you’re looking for a wonderful stylist and can make it to Marin, Bishlam at Salon B in San Rafael is a miracle worker, especially if you have unruly or curly hair (like moi).

• The giveaway is now closed; congrats to the winner, Liza! Before you go, check the home page for ongoing giveaways.

Good morning, fellow beauty surfers. 🙂 I hope you’re having a pleasant Saturday so far. I’m just sitting here sipping my morning latte (a weekend treat) and surfin’ the interwebs. Care to come with?

Random bright spots

• Brides-to-be (and accessory fiends), these bridal hair accessories just took my breath away — Bellasugar
• Mad props to anyone who can pull off this geometric eye look, demonstrated here using Tokidoki makeup — Blaq Vixen Beauty
• A look at the evolution of fashion through Audrey Hepburn’s (LOVE HER!) films — Style Through Her Eyes
• Biore wants you to preserve your skin with their Dual Fusion Moisture Lotion — The Notice
• Lovers of non-stick gloss, BEHOLD Guerlain’s Terracotta Lipgloss — Temptalia
• FUN! Budget drugstore nail polishes in summery yellow, orange and blue — Never Enough Nails
• Who else loves homemade smoothies? This blueberry one sounds nommy-licious! — Eat, DINK and Be Merry
• Get Victoria’s Secret super model legs with Lush’s Heavanilli massage bars — Pretty Petals
• Sunscreen for lazies — Makeup Morsels
• 7 MAGNIFICENT lip balms — We Heart This

New in beauty

• Great wooden packaging for these EDUN eye and face palettes at Sephora, right? Check out Harmony and Contrast ($36 each)
• Fusion Beauty says their SculptDiva cream-to-powder blushes ($29 each) contain “Amplifat.” Um… is that good (LOL!)?
• The Bliss No-Zit Sherlock acne treatment system ($32) sure has a cheeky name, but I’ll forgive it if it works
• WANT THIS: Bobbi Brown Beach Shimmer Brick Compact ($38)
• My fellow Chloe perfume lovers, have you sniffed these Chloe Eau De Fleurs Toilettes in Capuchine, Lavande and Neroli ($135 each)?
• How cute are Sonia Kashuk’s Perfecting Hydrating Lip Balms ($8 each)?
• Japonesque’s Demi Flair Black Lashes ($8) look like they’d be perfect for a night out with the girls
• Philosophy’s Going Coconuts Bath & Shower Gel Trio ($30) sounds just like I feel! 🙂
• Shiseido is hanging ten for summer 2010 with a beachy Ocean Collection

Been listening to this song all morning…

This one too…

Have a great Saturday, okay?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

• The giveaway is now closed; congrats Rachel! Before you go, check the home page for ongoing giveaways.

Heya, ladies. Happy hump day. 🙂 I feel like Sir Edmund Hillary this morning, except that this week has been my Everest! But no worries; should be smooth sailing to the weekend from here.

How about a giveaway to help us keep the wind at our back?

The prize

One lucky lady will win a MAC Pro Longwear Lipstain Marker in Sunset, a pretty coral brown from the MAC Art Supplies collection (a $16 value).

For more on the MAC Art Supplies Pro Longwear Lipstain Markers…

• Vetting MAC Art Supplies Pro Longwear Lipstain Markers
• The MAC Pro Longwear Lipstain Markers: Answers to Your Questions

.

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, a comment about anything at all! Write one (or a list) of your favorite songs, rave about your latest makeup crush, or vent about how your hella annoying neighbor keeps filling your recycling container with their garbage (I’m not bitter!).

Natasha Bedingfield’s Love Like This is my JAM! Hearing it always cheers me up. 🙂

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

Follow @karenmbb and RT to Win a MAC Pro Longwear Lipstain Marker in Sunset http://bit.ly/aJQlYJ

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:
   
   Follow @karenmbb and RT to Win a MAC Pro Longwear Lipstain Marker in Sunset http://bit.ly/aJQlYJ

I’ll pick the winner at random from among the people who enter by 11:59 p.m. PST on Thursday, May 13.

Glück!!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

• The giveaway is now closed; congrats Rachel! Before you go, check the home page for ongoing giveaways.