Just For Fun

Greetings from WordCamp San Francisco, ladies. I’ve had about eight cups of coffee (it was free), and I’m feelin’ WHEE! Has your coffee or tea kicked in yet?

WordCamp is a one-day conference for people who use the software I use for Makeup and Beauty Blog. They talk about plugins, which are little programs that add new features; security; search engine optimization and then load you up on swag like buttons and stickers.

I’ve got my laptop here in the conference room. Weird… I’m actually using WordPress at WordCamp.

FREAKY!

How are things with you? The surf patrol reports some nice breaks. Care to catch a few waves with me?

Random bright spots

• What a cool slideshow on bridal beauty throughout the ages — BellaSugar
• SATC released a third promo poster, and it’s a PHOTOSHOP OF HORRORS! — Pink is the New Blog
• Can you eat your way to clearer skin? — StyleCaster
• Should you keep lipstick in the fridge? — The Beauty Brains
• How to dress for date night — Jezebel
• Om nom nom… Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment is making my tummy rumble — Temptalia
• Methinks I should try GloMinerals Face Primer — The Fashionable Housewife
• Cute geek t-shirts for girls — Soof the Geek
• Get a Carolina Herrara runway-inspired hairpiece at home — Alex the Hungry Ghost
• I found this article on contributing writing to blogs and magazine helpful — Independent Fashion Bloggers

New in beauty

• Do you prefer polka dots or stripes? What do ya think about these new makeup bags from Kate Spade ($125 each)
• Laura Mercier’s Flawless Skin Daily Face Sheild ($45) offers broad-spectrum sun protection and oil control
• Do you like the colors in Guerlain’s Meteorites Summer Collection eyeshadow palette ($59)?
• How do you feel about neutrals? The Smashbox Eye Shadow Quad offers four powder shadows in taupe, ivory, soft peach and chocolate brown… and it’s only $6!
• New primers from NARS: Skin Smoothing Face Prep ($30) and Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base ($24)
• WARNING: You might fall in love with the Tom Ford Private Blend Lip Colour Lipsticks ($45) after your first look
• LOVE the colors in Becca’s Bombora Palette ($65)
• Cargo’s Get Wet Kit ($39) comes with the line’s bestselling water-resistant products, as well as three new waterproof eye pencils
• More from Cargo: The Swimmables Waterproof Pencil Collection ($18) comes with five smudge-proof cream-to-powder liners in blue, purple and green

I wish Tabs would let me haul him around like this…

Do you know the words to this song?

Hope your weekend got off to a good start. I just got a text from Tabs… He said to be sure to tell everyone “hi.” 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

• The giveaway is now closed. Congrats to winners Jen, Susie G, Bearsmama, C. Diff and Steph. Before you go, check the home page for ongoing giveaways.

I was cruising my nearby Macy’s last week when I spotted something akin to a mirage in the middle of the desert. I almost dropped my half-caf latte! There, before me in the middle of the cosmetics department, sat a brand spankin’ new Elizabeth Arden counter.

“Wha!?”

I was so bummed when EA left Macy’s a few years ago. I’d been craving a new tube of Ceramide Mascara, so I hustled over to the new counter to restock.

It turns out the line is baaaack! Yup, Bay Area babes, we’ll have yet another reason to prowl our local Macy’s makeup counters.

Bay Area gals, look for Elizabeth Arden counters to open at the following stores this spring:
Roseville, Walnut Creek, Concord, Stonestown (San Francisco), Eastridge (San Jose), Serramonte (Daly City), Northgate (San Rafael), Salinas (Northridge), Hilltop (Richmond), Bay Fair (San Leandro), Cupertino, Sunnyvale (Town Center) and Corte Madera.

Live outside the area? No problem. Get your Elizabeth Arden fix online at Macys.com.

To celebrate the news, Elizabeth Arden is hooking us up with a HELLA SWEET giveaway, and it’s open to Makeup and Beauty Blog readers everywhere (even international).

Get ready, because it’s one of the biggest MBB giveaways to date! 🙂

The prize

Five lucky ladies will win a prize package worth $434 that includes…

1. High Shine Lip Gloss ($15): A tube of this brilliantly shiny gloss
2. Ceramide Plump Perfect Lipstick ($22): A plumping, moisturizing, long-wearing lipstick to spice up your pout
3. Pretty Elizabeth Arden Eau de Parfum Spray ($62): A floral fragrance with notes of orange blossom, peach nectar, jasmine and musk
4. Pure Finish Mineral Bronzer ($35): An oil-free bronzer to kiss your skin with a natural glow
5. Limited Edition Anniversary Lipstick in Red Door Red ($20): A sheer red lipstick in a universal shade
6. Prevage Face Advanced Anti-Aging Serum ($155): Reduces the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, age spots and discoloration on the skin
7. Prevage Day Ultra Protection Anti-Aging Moisturizer SPF 30 ($125): A broad-spectrum sunscreen that also improves the look of dry, damaged skin

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. 🙂 You could share the name of your favorite breakfast food, your favorite Elizabeth Arden product (mine’s Ceramide Mascara; it thickens with GREAT curl hold), how you feel about reality TV or what you do for fun, etc.

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

Follow @karenmbb and RT to Win More Than $400 in Elizabeth Arden Makeup and Skincare http://bit.ly/9RBNdm

Recap…

1. Enter by leaving a comment at the bottom of this post (about anything at all), and don’t forget to use a valid email address so I can reach you if you win.
2. Follow me on Twitter @karenmbb and retweet the following message:
   
   Follow @karenmbb and RT to Win More Than $400 in Elizabeth Arden Makeup and Skincare http://bit.ly/9RBNdm

I’ll pick the five winners at random from among the people who enter by 11:59 p.m. PST on Sunday, May 2.

Kila la kheri!!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

• The giveaway is now closed. Congrats to winners Jen, Susie G, Bearsmama, C. Diff and Steph. Before you go, check the home page for ongoing giveaways.

I was rifling through the MBB archives yesterday when I came across this old game of blog tag.

Blog tag is where one blogger tags another blogger with a list of questions and conversation starters for a sort of “getting to know you” blog.

This morning I thought it might be fun do it again with more answers to the same questions, except this time I’m tagging YOU! 🙂

Things I’m passionate about

Sleep
Travel
Nutella
Running
Succinct writing
Low-fat cooking
Rescue animal adoption
Apples (as in Macintosh)
Excess body hair removal
Sales and beauty bargains

Things I’d like to do before I die

Live somewhere I can surf in warm water on a daily basis
Spend a full month traveling through Europe
Come to peace with all of my faults
Learn how to play the cello
Develop abs of steel!
Own a Chanel purse
See U2 in concert

Things I say often

You’re so strange
Show me your tum!
Crap, my 217 is dirty
Let’s do the dishes tomorrow
What time do you want me to set the alarm?
Please, no talking until I’ve had more caffeine

[Continue reading…]

1. Mood:

I can’t believe I woke up BEFORE my alarm clock today but still feel like I got a full night’s sleep. 🙂 Things are off to a good start!

2. What do you have as your computer desktop wallpaper?
   

It’s one of Monet’s Water Lily paintings… I’ve always loved the Impressionists!

3. Can you ride a bike?

Yup. I learned when I was 8. My cousin taught me, and we didn’t even use training wheels! — which I remember thinking was a big deal at the time.

4. Oatmeal raisin or chocolate chip cookie?

If there’s icing, then oatmeal raisin (but chocolate chip if the chips are semi-sweet)

5. Eyes/lips/cheeks:

Urban Decay Eden Primer Potion, MAC All That Glitters eyeshadow, MAC Graphblack liner/Hourglass Fortune Extremesheen lipgloss/Hourglass Sunset Creme-to-Powder Bronzer Duo

6. When was the last time someone gave you flowers?

El Hub got me a bouquet for Valentine’s Day in February.

7. What’s on your desk?

A small desk lamp, two huge Mead 5-Subject spiral-bound notebooks (one for planning/notes, and one for writing), NARS Sin blush, a bottle of Balenciaga Paris perfume, an external hard drive for computer backups, Clarins Sunscreen Wrinkle Control Eye Cream, Chanel Natural Finish Pressed Powder, a cup of (now) cold decaf coffee and miscellaneous MAC (Sable eyeshadow, Kraft lipstick and Opulash Mascara)

8. I really wish I could _____.

Focus on one thing at a time

9. Outfit:

My favorite pair of Lucky Jeans (the ones with the hole in the thigh), a pink Rip Curl t-shirt and silver chandelier earrings

10. Weekly goals:

Be better about avoiding distractions while I work, exercise at least three times before Saturday, keep a positive attitude, track down some new music and read something for fun at least an hour each day

Haaay, baby girl! Here we go again (on our own!). It’s another Monday, which according to my inner optimist means yet another chance to start fresh. 🙂

I hope you had a good weekend. Before you enter the rat race today, let me know how you’re doin’ by filling out the Monday Poll. Just copy the list, and paste it with your answers in the comments.

Le list

1. Mood:
2. What do you have as your computer desktop wallpaper?
3. Can you ride a bike?
4. Cookies: oatmeal raisin or chocolate chip?
5. Eyes/lips/cheeks:
6. When was the last time someone gave you flowers?
7. What’s on your desk?
8. I really wish I could _____.
9. Outfit:
10. Weekly goals:

I’m up for having a great week if you are. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

MY BEST:

Lately, I’ve been trying to eat less junk food and exercise more, and I’ve noticed a wee difference (aka, I feel slightly less like a sausage in my favorite jeans). Small victories, ya know?

MY WORST:

Probably TMI, but the warmer weather’s making my scalp go nuts. Thank goodness for dandruff shampoo and white shirts!

What were your best and worst beauty experiences of the week? Please share yours in the comments.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen