Just For Fun

Summer Sendoff: 12 September Posts You May Have Missed

October 4th, 2008 by Karen 9 Comments

1. A Blue, Pink and Silver Eye with Clarins So Sublime Quartet

“I didn’t think I’d be able to use the colors in the So Sublime quad when I first saw them a few weeks ago because they seemed too bright, but playing with them today changed my mind. I like the results. I think I’ll include this eye in my regular rotation of work friendly (yet colorful) looks. Yes, Virginia, you too can wear hot pink eye shadow!” Read more…

2. How To: A Purple Smokey Eye with Stila Convertible Eye Color in Violet

“I hate going to work completely tow’ up, but it seems like I’m always running late. What I need are makeup tools and tips to help me save time when I’m getting ready for work, and I think I found one: Stila Convertible Eye Color ($20). ” Read more…

3. The Chanel Smoky Eye Quad Seduction

“She arrived dressed to thrill in a sleek black compact — four sophisticated shadows born to seduce and built to weaken knees. Crafted to create the ultimate smoky eye, she prepared to do her dance of makeup seduction. Even before I opened the Chanel Smoky Eye Quad ($56), I could hear her siren song.” Read more…

4. Looking for Cheap, Stylish Ways to Organize Your Makeup?

“Your local art store may have just the thing you need to keep your growing makeup stash organized. Most arts and crafts stores stock unvarnished wooden boxes in assorted shapes and sizes. They make perfect (and affordable) makeup storage containers. I spied these boxes, each ranging from a whopping $1.50 to a staggering $3, at my local Ben Franklin Craft Store this afternoon. They’re perfect for storing eye shadows, blushes, glosses or whatever your makeup-lurving heart desires.” Read more…

5. MAC Cosmetics Cremesheen Product Pictures and Swatches

“A new kid’s in town, and her name is Cremesheen — MAC Cremesheen. The collection joins two other major MAC releases that arrived on counters nationwide today: Suite Array, and Gold Fever (exclusive to Nordstrom stores). Say hello to Cremesheen’s 14 new lipstick colors.” Read more…

6. Diorshow Iconic Mascara Lengthens, Curls and Defines Lashes with Ease

“Some products are so good in certain ways that their strengths totally outweigh their weaknesses. For me, Diorshow Iconic Mascara ($27) is one of those products. The newest member of Dior’s lash arsenal doesn’t produce the thickest lashes I’ve ever seen. It doesn’t thicken as well as, say, Chanel Exceptionnel does, but it lengthens, curls and defines lashes so amazingly well that I don’t mind at all.” Read more…
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YOU MUST CHOOSE: The Big Hands Edition

October 3rd, 2008 by Karen 33 Comments

1. Big Hands or Big Feet?

If you had to pick one, would you rather have huge feet (at least you’ll never need to rent snorkel flippers) OR oversized hands?
YOU MUST CHOOSE!

2. Red Eyes or Green Tongue?

Bright red eyes OR neon green tongue?
YOU MUST CHOOSE!

3. $1 Million Tattoo: Misspelled Quote or Screech from Saved by the Bell?

A wealthy, eccentric billionaire with a twisted sense of humor offers you $1 million if you get a tattoo for him — either your favorite quote on the side of your neck (unfortunately, weirdo billionaire demands that half the words be spelled incorrectly) OR a lifelike rendition of Screech from Saved by the Bell on your left boob. The contract stipulates that you can’t remove or attempt to conceal either tattoo with makeup for the rest of your life.
YOU MUST CHOOSE!

4. Eyebrow Issues or Hairy Back?

Would you rather have out-of-control, bushy eyebrows (which you can’t trim or modify) and a smooth, hairless back, OR really nice brows but out-of-control, bushy hair on your back (which you can’t wax or shave)?
YOU MUST CHOOSE!

5. Unwashed Hair or Makeup-Free?

Which would be less offensive: not being able to wash your hair for two months OR not being allowed to wear any makeup for two months?
YOU MUST CHOOSE!

6. Choose Your Curse

Your ex is hella bitter and bestows a curse upon you. Would you rather be cursed with embarrassing dance moves in public (you’re compelled to dance to every song — even slow ones — with both your arms raised up in the air; wave ’em round like you just don’t care), OR would you rather be doomed to having every pair of socks you wear constantly slip down your legs?
YOU MUST CHOOSE!

7. Which of Your Ex’s as Friends?

Speaking of ex’s, which one of yours would you wish you were still friends with (initials are perfectly fine for this answer) and why?
YOU MUST CHOOSE!

To play You Must Choose, just copy the list below and paste it with your answers in the comments. 🙂

1. Big hands or big feet?
2. Red eyes or green tongue?
3. $1 Million tattoo: misspelled quote or Screech?
4. Eyebrow issues or hairy back?
5. Unwashed hair or makeup-free for two months?
6. Cursed with bad dance moves or slipping socks?
7. Which of your ex’s as friends?

TGIF! It was one of those crazy weeks at work, and I’m so glad it’s Friday. I was really hoping to go for a run today, but the sky is an ominous shade of gray. I think it might rain. I don’t run in the rain anymore, not since the Bay to Breakers race a few years ago, when it rained the entire time. I was sopping wet and freezing with squishy socks for seven miles. No thank you! Talk about traumatizing, LOL!

Time for another cup of coffee. 🙂

Having a good Friday so far?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Sept. 29

September 29th, 2008 by Karen 96 Comments

Mood:

Nervous! I have a lot on my plate at work today, and I’m afraid I won’t get everything done.

Outfit:

Since I haven’t gotten ready yet, a tank top and shorts under a terry cloth robe.

Shoes:

None right now, but since it looks like it’s going to be chilly, I think I’ll wear my chocolate brown, knee-high boots.

Lips:

Softlips Lip Protectant in Cherry

Best thing about last weekend:

My friend Jen’s bridal shower.

Nails:

Sally Hansen’s The Good Earth on my toes, but I’m thinking about replacing it with Dior’s Mystic Violine.

Hair product I’m loving:

Bumble & Bumble’s Curl Conscious Holding Foam.

Book I’m reading:

Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin.

Body Lotion:

Stella McCartney Soft Body Milk.

Goals for the week:

Organize my writing desk (NO MORE PROCRASTINATING!), do my laundry, get everything done at work and resist the urge to chop off all of my hair!

Morning, lovelies! It’s time for another Monday Poll. Just copy this empty list, and paste it with your answers in the comments. 🙂

Le list

Mood:
Outfit:
Shoes:
Lips:
Best thing about last weekend:
Nails:
Hair product I’m loving:
Book I’m reading:
Body Lotion:
Goals for the week:

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Beauty Snacks: Sites of the Day, Sept. 27

September 27th, 2008 by Karen 12 Comments

How-To: Hayden Panettiere’s Emmys Look

Super heroine Hayden Panettiere rocked a cute, tasteful smokey eye to the 2008 Emmy Awards last week. BellaSugar put together this handy how-to with tips from celeb makeup artist Amy Oresman.

How To Cope With A Quarter-Life Crisis (Part Two)

A few years ago I went through a craptacular time in my life, questioning my career and some of the bigger decisions I’d made through that point. When I came across this spec-freakin-tacular post by Gala of galadarling.com, the phrase “quarter-life crisis” cleared up a few things for me. If you’re stumbling through your 20s like I did, read on, soulja!

Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupte Lipstick is Phenomenal!

OOH! Christine over at Temptalia.com got her hands on the new Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupte Lipsticks and said they might be “…the creamiest, most pigmented, and deliriously glossy formula” she’s ever tried. Check out the review and these drop-dead gorgeous product shots.

How to Wear: Scarves

I lurve scarves! — and with scarf weather quickly approaching, I danced in my chair when I found this short video clip on how to wear scarves at Who What Wear. I want that damn closet too…

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

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YOU MUST CHOOSE: The Barney vs. Bootsy Edition

September 26th, 2008 by Karen 20 Comments

1. That man of your dreams (you know the one) finally asks for your hand in marriage. You can have any kind of wedding you want — the sky’s the limit — but dream guy insists upon one thing: he wants to get hitched wearing either a Bootsy Collins outfit (complete with guitar, hat and crazy glasses) or a Barney costume. The choice is yours.
YOU MUST CHOOSE!

2. If you had to eat the same exact thing for six straight months — breakfast, lunch and dinner — and had to choose between cold boiled chicken (no spices or sauce) or cold, bland oatmeal, which would it be?
YOU MUST CHOOSE!

3. Which former Saved By the Bell heartthrob would you rather have martinis with: Mark-Paul Gosselaar or cheeseball o’ the century Mario Lopez?
YOU MUST CHOOSE!

4. If you had to go for a month without one of them, would you live without moisturizer (no oils, moisturizing mists, nothing!) or toothpaste?
YOU MUST CHOOSE!

5. Which would you rather give up for one year: the internet or underwear (includes bras, panties, sports bras, swimsuits, etc. — you’re basically commando)?
YOU MUST CHOOSE!

6. You win a very random makeup lottery in which you’re given $2,000 to spend on any makeup you want! What do you buy?
YOU MUST CHOOSE!

7. A friend of yours builds a time machine and gives you the keys. Do you use it? If so, when and where do you go?
YOU MUST CHOOSE!

To play You Must Choose, just copy the list and leave your answers in the comments. 🙂

Bootsy or Barney?

Cold chicken or cold oatmeal?

Mark-Paul Gosselaar or Mario Lopez?

A month without moisturizer or a month without toothpaste?

Internet or underwear?

$2,000 on makeup? What do you get?

Time travel when and where?

Yea, we made it to Friday, WOOT!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Life Advice from Gwyneth Paltrow?

September 23rd, 2008 by Karen 21 Comments

Actress Gwyneth Paltrow has just launched a new lifestyle website called Goop. There’s not much to it yet (I think it’s still in beta), but I’m getting an Oprah/O magazine vibe from it with a focus on “nourishing the inner aspect” through recipes, travel information, shopping recommendations and tidbits on personal growth.

“My life is good because I am not passive about it. I want to nourish what is real, and I want to do it without wasting time. I love to travel, to cook, to eat, to take care of my body and mind, to work hard…

Whether you want a good place to eat in London, some advice on where to stay in Austin, the recipe I made up this week, or some thoughts from one of my sages, GOOP is a little bit of everything that makes up my life.

Make your life good. Invest in what’s real. Cook a meal for someone you love. Pause before reacting. Clean out your space. Read something beautiful. Treat yourself to something. Go to a city you’ve never been to. Learn something new. Don’t be lazy. Work out and stick with it. GOOP. Make it great.”

I’m all for women spreading a positive message online, but celebrity often brings with it vast sums of money and the freedom that comes with wealth and privilege. Certainly, celebrities are people too — frail — with families, health issues, traumatic experiences, fears and desires, but when they try to relate to working class folks on a personal level, they aren’t always aware of their own good fortune in life.

I believe she has good intentions, and I’ve always thought highly of Gwyneth. I’m sure she wants to use her star power to improve the lives of women through her website, but, honestly, cleaning out my space? What does that mean to a multi-millionaire?

Organizing or cleaning the bathroom might be fun for someone who only does it once a year because the maid stops by every Wednesday, but for regular gals that kind of household stuff is a given; cleaning happens every weekend, otherwise we live in filth. That’s all there is to it.

A few of the items she lists within the site’s mission statement (I wonder if she really wrote it) seem to have been written by someone a bit out of touch.

“Cook a meal for someone you love.” Yup, for some families (those without personal chefs), cooking “a meal for someone you love” happens three times a day.

“Don’t be lazy.” Hmm… Wouldn’t it be nice to even have the option to be lazy? I know a lot of women who can’t let up for one minute because they simply *have* to work hard to support themselves and their families.

I dunno, maybe I woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning (it happens), but I don’t know if I can relate to this lifestyle site in the way I could to Oprah’s (someone who, despite her current wealth, grew up extremely poor) or even Rachel Ray’s. I applaud Gwyneth’s efforts, but I hope to see her reflect upon how celebrity has changed her life and comment upon how wealth and privilege have changed her perspective.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Sept. 22

September 22nd, 2008 by Karen 63 Comments

Water lilies at the San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers

Mood:

Sleepy

Fragrance:

Chanel Allure

Nails:

My fingers and toes are bare right now, but later today I’m painting them in The Good Earth, a shimmery dark brown by Sally Hansen.

Sweet tooth:

Carrot cake with *lots* of cream cheese frosting

Celeb crush:

He’s mainly a local celebrity, but I’m still giddy about meeting San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom last week.

Makeup crush:

Cat Eyes ($16) eye liner by Pop Beauty, an eye crayon shaped to create the liner “flick” at the ends of cat eyes.

Something you don’t know about me:

I love the beach late at night.

Latest makeup or beauty find I’ve been telling my homies about:

Chanel No. 5 Eau de Premiere. I always considered Chanel No. 5 a little too overbearing and stuffy, but I’m really into this interpretation of the scent. It’s lighter and not as rich old lady as regular No. 5. I think it just might be my new fall fragrance.

Hair:

A loose, low bun.

Goals for the week:

To keep repeating my mirror mantras (hey, those things actually help!), to survive work and to put together the prize bags for the bachelorette party I’m throwing this Saturday. Got any ideas for prizes?

Your turn. 🙂 Just copy the following list, and paste it with your answers in the comments.

Le list

Mood:
Fragrance:
Nails:
Sweet tooth:
Celeb crush:
Makeup crush:
Something you don’t know about me:
Latest makeup or beauty find you’re sharing:
Hair:
Goals for the week:

Happy Monday!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen