Just For Fun

1. Chanel Ombre Essentielle Soft Touch Eyeshadow: Bonjour Credit Card Debt — Last summer Chanel brought the noise with their eyeshadow quads. They were so outstanding that I almost overlooked the singles… I’m glad I came to my senses before it was too late. 🙂

2. Lip Look: Chanel Rouge Hydrabase Leopard Lipstick — If you can get your hands on Leapard Hydrabase Lipstick, grab it up. I feel it’s my civic duty to inform coral lipstick lovers everywhere how creamy and smooth it feels on my lips.

3. 9 Things I’m Glad I Know — Ya’ll know how much I love to write lists. Among the things I’m glad I know: how to tweeze my brows and wax my ‘stache. You’d be looking at the sasquatch of beauty bloggers if it weren’t for hair removal, LOL!

4. Too Faced Shadow Insurance Anti-Crease Eyeshadow Primer Blends Great, Lasts All Day Long — If you’re new to makeup, you might be thinking, “Uh, what’s an eye primer?” Fair enough. Eyeshadow primers create a smooth layer on top of your skin to which powder and cream shadows can better affix themselves. It translates into longer-lasting eyeshadow.

5. MAC Makeup Tips: MAC Does Makeup for Music, Too — You probably already knew that MAC provides makeup and makeup artists for fashion shows all over the world, but did you know that MAC does makeup for music tours, too? To find out more about how MAC works with performers on large concerts and events, I spoke with MAC Senior Makeup Artist Jennifer Karsten.

6. Face of the Day: MAC Smokey Brown and Purple Eye — Mama always said, “When life hands you insomnia, hide your dark circles with concealer.” Okay, my mom didn’t actually say that because she doesn’t wear makeup (I know! The apple fell so far from the tree!).

7. A Few of My Favorite Crease Colors — Which crease colors would I want to be buried with in my (presumably fabulously decorated) tomb for all eternity? That’s easy: MAC Soft Brown, Soba and Sable eyeshadow, my top three go-to crease colors of all time!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. I had a good time at dinner last night with the girls. We went to Japanese. What did you end up doing?

It’s the crack of dawn here (I’m not quite functional yet), but I’ll write more as soon as I’ve had my first cup of java. Oh, how I love thee, sweet caffeine. 🙂

Smashbox Untamed Collection

While I was at the MAC counter today checking out the new A Rose Romance collection, I overheard a girl say that she loves makeup so much that she does a full face just to chill at home.

I started wondering how many of us beauty junkies do the same thing. 🙂

If I’m at home and know I’m not leaving the house, I’ll usually do a bare minimum of makeup so that I can bear to look at myself in the mirror — concealer, brows and mascara. That’s about it, though, unless I’m playing with makeup for fun.

Do you like to wear makeup when you’re just relaxing at home? If you do, do you do a full face or stick to a few basics?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

San Francisco’s Queen Anne Hotel

1. Mood:

Happy but sniffly (bad allergies today!)

2. First words out of my mouth this morning:

I said, “Oh, HAI!” to Tabs after he climbed up on the bed to wake me up.

3. Something I’m looking forward to this week:

Meeting my friends, J-Money and C-Money, for dinner in San Francisco on Friday night. We haven’t gotten together since J-Money’s wedding last November.

4. One thing I’d like to improve about myself:

I’d like to be more punctual.

5. On my makeup lust list:

Up-Lighting Illuminator and Almost Bronzer from Clinique’s Summer 2009 collection

6. Last dream I can remember:

It was early this morning. I dreamt I was having coffee and croissants with Michael Cera. Whenever I’d set down my croissant, he’d reach over and tear off bits without my permission and ask me for home buying advice. Yes, it was a little weird.

7. Cheeks and lips:

NARS The Multiple Orgasm (LOL!) and Chanel Monte Carlo

8. Outfit:

A gray dress, blue sweater and yellow shoes

9. Fragrance:

I can’t stop spraying Estee Lauder Pleasures Baie Rose Peony Splash ($52)

10. Weekly goals:

To go for a run every day, to paint my toe nails, to cross off at least half of the things on my to-do list and to prepare a few new vegetarian recipes for dinner

Ahhh-CHOO, girls! My allergies are full-on crazy today. It looks like I’m going to have to bust out the waterproof mascara because for me allergies always equal runny eyes. Anyway, enough about my pollen woes. Please join in and let me know what you’re up to by copying the empty list below and pasting it with your answers in the comments.

Le list

Mood:
First words out of my mouth this morning:
What I’m looking forward to this week:
One thing I’d like to improve about myself:
On my makeup lust list:
Last dream I can remember:
Cheeks and lips:
Outfit:
Fragrance:
Weekly goals:

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. I just learned the winners of the 2009 Glam Network Awards. I didn’t win, of course, and that’s cool. There’s always next year! Big congrats to all these great blogs:

Beauty: Temptalia
Fashion: The Fashion Police
Celebrity & Entertainment: The Celebrity Cafe
Lifestyle: Health Castle
Living: Making It Lovely
Shopping: The Purse Blog
Family: Black and Married with Kids, Honest Baby
Best Newcomer: Stylemaven
Best Design: V Magazine
Best Use of Photography: Chubby Hubby
Most Creative: Fafarazzi
Most Humorous: Guanabee
Best Tagline: Adventures in Stiletto Jungle
Judges Pick: Makeherup

Thanks for your votes. Each day I write for MBB makes me feel like a winner. Cheesy, but true. 🙂

Update: This giveaway is closed. I’ll be announcing the winner soon. Thanks for entering!

HOLLA! Sometimes I feel like we should be rewarded for making it through the week. I wish I could COMMAND makeup to RAIN DOWN UPON US from the sky, like a cosmetics version of “Storm” from the X-Men. 🙂

Unfortunately, I can’t make it rain lipgloss (shoot!), but I can announce a Saturday giveaway.

How about some Physicians Formula?

The prize

One lucky lady will win a prize package containing four items from the Physicians Formula makeup line:

• Shimmer Strips Custom Eye Enhancing Shadow & Liner in Hazel Eyes ($11)
• Shimmer Strips Custom Eye Enhancing Shadow & Liner in Smoky Blue Eyes ($11)
• Organic Wear 100% Natural Origin Blush in Pink Organics ($12)
• Perfecting Mineral Concentrate ($10)

How to enter…

There are a couple ways to enter the giveaway, and you can do both of them for two chances to win.

First, enter by leaving a comment at the bottom of this post. In it, tell me your favorite thing about weekends.

My favorite thing about weekends is not having to set my alarm!

Second, you can enter by subscribing to my updates by email (if you haven’t already). They’re once-a-day emails with my daily posts. You’ll get beauty reviews looks, makeup tutorials and fun giveaways like this one.
(Note: if you’re already subscribed, you’re automatically entered to win.)

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, or…
2. Sign up for my updates by email if you haven’t already. Just enter your email address using the form below, or click this link.

Enter your email address:

I’ll pick the winner at random from among the people who enter by 11:59PM PST Sunday night.

Good luck, cutie pies!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Good morning, glories! I’ve got my coffee in hand, browsing the web like I usually do to wake myself up. Did you sleep well?

I found a few interesting reviews on my Net travels this AM…

• The Clarisonic Electric Skin Care Brush ($195) — We Heart This
• Orly Carnivale Collection, Spring 2009 ($7.50 each) — Vampy Varnish
• MAC Prep + Prime Primers ($19.50-$23 each) — NessasaryMakeup
• Essie Summer 2009 Neons ($8 each) — Scrangie
• Crabtree and Evelyn Cleansing Body Polisher ($17.50) — A Mom in Red High Heels
• Make Up For Ever Glossy Full Couleur ($19) — The Life of a Lady Bug
• SEPHORA Pure Natural 7-Color Palette ($36) — Beauty And The Blog

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen