Just For Fun

• UPDATE: Dec. 27, 2009. The giveaway is now closed, and the winner will be contacted soon. Good luck! 🙂

Hi, ladies. Hope you’re having a wonderful day so far. 🙂 Things have been way mellow here. I’m just lounging around, listening to Christmas music and the occasional caw of a jungle chicken.

I really should get back to my strenuous couch sitting… but before I do, it’s time for today’s installment of 10 Days of Giveaways! I’m super stoked about today’s because it features one of my FAVORITE limited edition holiday sets.

The prize

One lucky lady will win Urban Decay’s Super Stash (a $36 value), a limited edition collection of mini 24/7 Glide-On Eye pencils in nine fun colors.

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.

Gah! Chocolate… I’m craving chocolate!

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

RT @karenmbb: RT to win an Urban Decay Super Stash (a $36 Value) http://bit.ly/8JOheM

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:
   
   RT @karenmbb: RT to win an Urban Decay Super Stash (a $36 Value) http://bit.ly/8JOheM

I’ll pick the winner at random from among the people who enter by 11:59 p.m. PST on Saturday, December 26.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

• UPDATE: Dec. 26, 2009. The giveaway is now closed, and the winner will be contacted soon. Good luck! 🙂

Good morning, cuties. Merry Christmas! Just a quick note to wish you a wonderful day today and to tell you thanks for your support and friendship. It’s been a fun year (but one with its share of challenges for us all), and I hope the year to come is a great one for you.

What are your plans today? Does your family celebrate Christmas? My side of the family back in California celebrates late on Christmas Eve, so we used Skype last night to video chat with them from here in Hawaii. Today with El Hub’s side of the family, we’ll be opening presents soon and just spending the day together chilling at home (it’s POURING down rain right now).

Whatever you have going on this weekend, be safe and have fun! We’ll talk again soon.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

• UPDATE: Dec. 26, 2009. The giveaway is now closed, and the winner will be contacted soon. Good luck! 🙂

Howzit, ladies? T-minus four hours until Saint Nick arrives! Hasn’t time just zipped by in a flash?

Yesterday I went for a run around the neighborhood here to 1) work on my rapidly declining fitness and 2) to check out the local Christmas decorations.

They’re pretty much the same as what you would find on the mainland — Santas, reindeer, Christmas lights — but it’s kinda funny to see snowmen and Christmas lights in yards with palm trees and hibiscus flowers. 🙂

This afternoon, I’m gonna try to head to Waikiki, braving the traffic and last-minute shoppers. I’ve heard that some of the hotels down there go all out with their Christmas decorations. If time permits, I may attempt to demonstrate the proper way to fall off a surfboard (ungracefully, ideally after two seconds).

Before that, I think it’s time for another giveaway! 🙂

The prize

One lucky lady will win Bobbi Brown’s Velvet Plum Eye Palette (a $40 value), a limited edition holiday eyeshadow palette with four versatile eyeshadows perfect for business meetings or drinks after work.

The shades…

• Bone: off white
• Naked: medium neutral pink
• Velvet Plum: shimmery blackish plum
• Espresso: dark chocolate brown

I love how these colors POP! without going too far.

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. In it, tell me the one thing you want MOST for Christmas

Happiness and health for all of my family and friends (that’s you). Oh, and maybe also something from Kate Spade, LOL! 🙂

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

RT @karenmbb: RT to win a Bobbi Brown Velvet Plum Eyeshadow Palette (a $40 Value) http://bit.ly/53DtiC

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:
   
   RT @karenmbb: RT to win a Bobbi Brown Velvet Plum Eyeshadow Palette (a $40 Value) http://bit.ly/53DtiC

I’ll pick the winner at random from among the people who enter by 11:59 p.m. PST on Friday, December 25.

Merry Christmas!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

• UPDATE: Dec. 26, 2009. The giveaway is now closed, and the winner will be contacted soon. Good luck! 🙂

With the end of the year looming, now is when a lot of us like to reflect. I like to look back at the past year — its obstacles and accomplishments — and forward to the year ahead.

I also think about changes I’ve made to my look this year. My new hair was a big one, and I’m happy I took that plunge (bangs!). I’m not entirely happy with my skin right now, however, and that’s something I want to work on in 2010.

How about you? Are you happy with your look?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Merry Christmas Eve morning, lovely lady. How did you sleep?

I think I slept well… I mean, I’m not sure. I think it’s too early to tell, LOL! My engine hasn’t even revved up yet. Judging by the darkness and silence outside, the chickens aren’t even awake!

While my neurons and I just lay here in the darkness contemplating Christmas, here’s a look back at some recent posts you may have missed.

Carmindy’s New Smoky Eye Kit Makes One Heck of a Stocking Stuffer

Leave it to makeup artist Carmindy (of TLC’s What Not To Wear) to make smokey eyes even easier than flipping your hair (well, almost). Her new Perfect Smoky Eyes Kit ($23, part of the Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Inspired by Carmindy line) comes with three coordinating eye products perfect for creating understated, elegant, just plain pretty smokey eyes.

The Urban Decay Show Pony Palette Is Ready to Party

For this (sassy) shimmery teal and peach look, I started with a layer of Urban Decay Sin Primer Potion beneath my shadows to increase their staying power and then added Urban Decay Skyscraper Mascara for extra oomph on my lashes.

Olay In-Shower Body Lotion Is Cutting Out the Middle Man

Thank you, Olay In-Shower Age Defying Body Lotion ($7), for turning me into a well-oiled, lotion-applying machine. Depending on how long I stick with creamy Olay In-Shower Body Lotion (I’m fickle when it comes to lotions), I could save hundreds of hours over the rest of my life. That’s because it basically eliminates the five minutes I’d otherwise spend applying lotion after every shower.

Lightening Up with the China Glaze Up and Away Collection

The shiny-happy mix of creamy brights and pastels in China Glaze’s new collection look like the colors from a Deee-Lite video. So playful and girly! And most of the 12 apply smooth with full coverage. The two that didn’t for me (the lighter shades) — Something Sweet and Light as Air — gave me some trubs in the streaking department, but I still really like the colors.

Lip Look: Hourglass Extreme Sheen Gloss in Siren

Well, hello, pigment! When it comes to color, Hourglass Cosmetics’ Extreme Sheen Lipgloss in Siren ($28), a shimmery reddish copper, does NOT mess around. It’s like a technicolor dream in tube form! Super rich, right? And opaque color isn’t the only thing this gloss has going for it…

DuWop Foundation of Youth, Revisited

Despite having a few negatives, Foundation of Youth is still one of the best foundations I’ve tried in recent years. I’m not a fan of the goofy brush-a-ma-bob or the limited selection of colors, but I LOVE how natural it feels on my skin and how beautifully it photographs (takes very well to the flash).

Holiday Party Makeup: A Casual Get-Together with Friends

Just like the office party look I tried earlier this month, this look’s also pretty conservative, relying on cool browns, pinks and golds for the eyes, lips and cheeks. It relies on products from the Clarins Palazzo D’Oro collection.

12 Ways to Fake a Good Night’s Sleep with Makeup

‘Tis the season for late nights, ladies — holiday parties, cramming for finals and waiting up for Santa. If you’re not getting enough shuteye over the holidays, why not fake a good night’s sleep with a little help from makeup?
[Continue reading…]

• UPDATE: Dec. 25, 2009. The giveaway is now closed, and the winner will be contacted soon. Good luck! 🙂

Wait — what’s that sound?! Do you hear it, ladies? The jingling in the distance, like sleigh bells? Santa’s coming! 🙂

Are you almost done with your Christmas preparations and shopping? Are you going to be among the tens of millions of travelers this week?

It’s a mad house out there, isn’t it? Yesterday I braved the Ala Moana Shopping Center here on Oahu (visited by four times as many people/year as Disneyland). It’s the state’s largest mall, and I’m not kidding here: the place is NO JOKE!

Right now I’m fueling up on coffee and Hawaiian sweet bread to go for a leisurely jog around the neighborhood. I think I’ll bring my camera with me…

Before I jet, are you ready for another giveaway (BTW, there’s still time to enter yesterday’s Urban Decay giveaway too)?

The prize

One lucky lady will win Lancome’s Sparkling Cherub Illuminating Powder (a $40 value), a shimmery highlighter for the face and body.

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.

I really hope I make it to the beach today… Come on, Mother Nature, cooperate, will ya? No rain, no rain, no rain.

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

RT @karenmbb: RT to win Lancome Sparkling Cherub Illuminating Powder (a $40 Value) http://bit.ly/7V6Xqu

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:
   
   RT @karenmbb: RT to win Lancome Sparkling Cherub Illuminating Powder (a $40 Value) http://bit.ly/7V6Xqu

I’ll pick the winner at random from among the people who enter by 11:59 p.m. PST on Wednesday, December 24.

Õnn kaasa!!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

• UPDATE: Dec. 25, 2009. The giveaway is now closed, and the winner will be contacted soon. Good luck! 🙂

Yikes! That’s a tough one… I guess it depends on what qualifies as a beauty product and which specific day we’re talking about, but If I just take an average day and include hair products and moisturizers along with the obvious things like mascara, eyeshadow, lipstick and gloss, it’s a pretty big number, LOL!

I’m gonna say 30…

WOW!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Good morning, girls. 🙂 I’m the only one awake yet (me and the chickens). It’s not quite dawn here, but I’m still on California time (which is two hours ahead of Hawaii). I’ve got my laptop on the couch that I’ve been sleeping on in my in-law’s small living room. El Hub is sleeping soundly on a foldable cushion beside me on the floor.

Every few hours or so I’ve been connecting via Skype to Makeup and Beauty Blog HQ in California to see how Tabs is doing. So far so good. He’s holding down the fort!

• UPDATE: Dec. 25, 2009. The giveaway is now closed, and the winner will be contacted soon. Good luck! 🙂

“Cock-a-doodle-dooOOOOoo!”

Yup, that’s the alarm clock out here in Kaneohe. Every morning, WELL before dawn, wild jungle chickens belt out what I imagine are their chicken Christmas carols…

Just a quick post before heading out for some last-minute shopping. It rained a little bit earlier today, but now the sun’s poking through the clouds, illuminating the jungle in a million shades of green.

And speaking of green… Urban Decay has a batch of three new smokey eyeshadow sets called, get this, the Smoke Out Kits.

Ready for today’s giveaway? 🙂

The prize

One lucky lady will win Urban Decay’s Yerba Buena Smoke Out Kit (a $34 value) for deep green smokey eyes. It comes with four eyeshadows, a mascara and an eyeliner, too.

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. It in, describe your favorite way to do a smokey eye.

I had a hard time with smokey eyes until I learned this trick. They’re a whole lot easier to do when I start with a layer of a creamy pencil like Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On in Zero beneath a powder shadow.

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

RT @karenmbb: RT to win the Urban Decay Yerba Buena Smoke Out Kit (a $34 Value) http://bit.ly/7TYI4B

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:
   
   RT @karenmbb: RT to win the Urban Decay Yerba Buena Smoke Out Kit (a $34 Value) http://bit.ly/7TYI4B

I’ll pick the winner at random from among the people who enter by 11:59 p.m. PST on Wednesday, December 23.

Nawguralek!!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

• UPDATE: Dec. 25, 2009. The giveaway is now closed, and the winner will be contacted soon. Good luck! 🙂