giveaway

• WINNER: The giveaway is closed now, and the winner is LL! Congratulations, LL! If you entered but didn’t win this time around, keep trying, and click here to enter any ongoing giveaways before you jet. 🙂

Rise and shine, morning glory! 🙂 I hope you had a wonderful week. No complaints out here. Last night I even spent a little time shopping — online, for things to help me with one of my New Year’s resolutions.

Yup, I’m still on a mission to stop dressing like a 15-year-old skater boy (a hard habit to break, apparently), and I found a couple of pricey possibilities at Anthropologie.

What do ya think of this romper and trench?

Leifsdottir Scattered Wing Romper on the left ($168) and Tulip-Hem Trench on the right ($298)

Cute, yeah? I really the romper, but I don’t know… Sometimes I wonder if things like rompers have an upper age limit that I might have passed.

I also love the jacket, but I wish it came in a different color. I’d have this one covered in makeup and cat hair in about a hot minute.

OOH! I came across a new designer (well, new to me) on the Nordstrom site that I wanted to ask you about. Are you familiar with Presley Skye? She (he?) has these soft, flowy dresses in colorful, springy prints (can you tell I’m ready for spring?).

Presley Skye Silk Kimono Sleeve Faux Wrap Dress on the left ($138) and Print Crêpe de Chine Dress ($138) on the right

Those dresses look so comfy, and if I’m smiling this much just looking at pictures of ’em, I can only imagine what wearing one would do to me.

Is it spring yet?

No? Well, at least it’s giveaway time. 🙂

• One (1) Sephora eGift card containing $50 sent to the winner by email (international readers, you may opt to receive $50 sent by PayPal instead).

• There are two ways to enter, 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, like, how do you feel about rompers? What’s one piece of makeup you own but never wear? Do you like lipglosses that tingle? Can you do a pushup? What’s your latest drugstore beauty crush? Twinkies or Snowballs? — you get the idea.
• Second, you can enter by following me on Twitter @karenmbb and retweeting (RT) the following message:
  • Follow @karenmbb and RT to Win a $50 eGift Card from Sephora! http://bit.ly/ygeQiN

• The deadline to enter is Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 11:59PM (PT).
• Entrants must enter using a valid email address and/or Twitter account to win.
• A maximum of two (2) entries per person — one within the comments at the bottom of this post, and a second entry via Twitter addressed to me @karenmbb.
• Contest is open to individuals of any country who have reached the age of majority according to their local laws (18 in the United States with these exceptions: Alabama and Nebraska, 19; Mississippi, 21).
• Sephora eGift Certificates can only be redeemed online and are not valid in stores or available for purchase or redemption in Canada. International winners may opt to substitute the Sephora eGift card prize for $50 sent directly to their email address by PayPal instead.
• Tabs and I (heretofore referred to as “T-Money and K-Dawg”) will select one (1) winner at random from the entries either left in the comments at the bottom of this blog post or addressed to @karenmbb on Twitter.
• The winner will be announced here within 48 hours of the deadline.
• Void where prohibited by law.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

• WINNER: The giveaway is closed now, and the winner is LL! Congratulations, LL! If you entered but didn’t win this time around, keep trying, and click here to enter any ongoing giveaways before you jet. 🙂

• WINNER: The giveaway is closed now, and the winner is Sarah! Congratulations, Sarah! If you entered but didn’t win this time around, keep trying, and click here to enter any ongoing giveaways before you jet. 🙂

They’re what I like to call “brain cheese.”

Ya know, brainless B-movies that border on unwatchable, but you end up watching them anyway because you’re not in the mood to think.

I had some brain cheese the other night in the form of SyFy’s Rise: Blood Walker (starring Lucy Liu!). It’s the usual “You turned me into a [INSERT PRETERNATURAL CREATURE HERE], and now I want my revenge!” flick.

Like a Lifetime movie…except with vampires.

Anywho, during one of the commercial breaks, I saw a promo for the new season of Face Off, SyFy’s special effects makeup reality show.

I didn’t watch the show last season, but I heard it was good. If you saw it, what did you think? Is it worth using my telekinesis, like in Chronicle, which I saw last night (OMG!), to program the DVR with my mind??

Oh, yes, CHRONICLE! Brain cheese need not apply, not unless we’re talking about Caciocavallo Podolico, which’ll set you back about $650/pound. I thought it was smart, thought provoking, thrilling, different and really well filmed (LOVE the flying scenes). One of my favorite sci-fi movies in years.

It’s a superhero/villain origin story of sorts about three high school friends who, through mysterious means, acquire the ability to manipulate objects in their environment with their minds. Telekinesis.

Okay, now, maybe from that description…it doesn’t sound very smart or different, but that’s just the dressing. What happens before and after that is the yummy salad.

I was worried about the cinematography before going in because I’d read that it was filmed in a style called “found footage,” like The Blair Witch Project and Cloverfield, where the characters are supposedly filming themselves with home video cameras, but while the camerawork in those two movies seemed a little gimmicky and clumsy to me, I thought it blended beautifully into the story in Chronicle.

Speaking of beauty, don’t we usually have a giveaway on Saturdays? Of course we do. 🙂 So let’s get on with it then.

• One (1) Sephora eGift card containing $50 sent to the winner by email (international readers, you may opt to receive $50 sent by PayPal instead).

• There are two ways to enter, 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, like, who’s your favorite character from a sci-fi book, TV or movie? Have you ever auditioned for a play or film? If you had a superpower, would you tell anyone? Do you wear makeup when you go to the movies? Capes on costumes: cute or tacky? Will you be my valentine? — you get the idea.
• Second, you can enter by following me on Twitter @karenmbb and retweeting (RT) the following message:
  • Follow @karenmbb and RT to Win a $50 eGift Card from Sephora! http://bit.ly/A9ItMq

• The deadline to enter is Sunday, February 5, 2012 at 11:59PM (PT).
• Entrants must enter using a valid email address and/or Twitter account to win.
• A maximum of two (2) entries per person — one within the comments at the bottom of this post, and a second entry via Twitter addressed to me @karenmbb.
• Contest is open to individuals of any country who have reached the age of majority according to their local laws (18 in the United States with these exceptions: Alabama and Nebraska, 19; Mississippi, 21).
• Sephora eGift Certificates can only be redeemed online and are not valid in stores or available for purchase or redemption in Canada. International winners may opt to substitute the Sephora eGift card prize for $50 sent directly to their email address by PayPal instead.
• Tabs and I (heretofore referred to as “T-Money and K-Dawg”) will select one (1) winner at random from the entries either left in the comments at the bottom of this blog post or addressed to @karenmbb on Twitter.
• The winner will be announced here within 48 hours of the deadline.
• Void where prohibited by law.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

• WINNER: The giveaway is closed now, and the winner is Sarah! Congratulations, Sarah! If you entered but didn’t win this time around, keep trying, and click here to enter any ongoing giveaways before you jet. 🙂

• WINNER: The giveaway is closed now, and the winner is Christina! Congratulations, Christina! If you entered but didn’t win this time around, keep trying, and click here to enter any ongoing giveaways before you jet. 🙂

So…my arms have been killing me all week long, and up until a few seconds ago, I’d attributed it to yoga, but now I’m thinking it might have something to do with Brita.

I got this Brita water bottle for Christmas that appears to have been designed for The Incredible Hulk, because that’s how strong you have to be to squeeze it and force the water through the filter thingy attached to the spout.

Good gawd! I’m squeezing so hard that my entire body quakes and veins pop out on my forehead.

Who knows? Maybe it’s just clever marketing on Brita’s part. They get you so worked up squeezing the bottle that you get thirsty and therefore squeeze the bottle even more, LOL!

Anywho, enough about my perpetually parched self. Let’s get to today’s giveaway! 🙂

• One (1) Sephora eGift card containing $50 sent to the winner by email (international readers, you may opt to receive $50 sent by PayPal instead).

• There are two ways to enter, 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, like, do you feel like you drink enough water? What’s your favorite brand of bottled water? Do you like the taste of the tap water where you live? What’s your favorite waterproof makeup product? Which makeup and beauty products did you use/wear the most this week? — you get the idea.
• Second, you can enter by following me on Twitter @karenmbb and retweeting (RT) the following message:
  • Follow @karenmbb and RT to Win a $50 eGift Card from Sephora! http://bit.ly/zxVHq1

• The deadline to enter is Sunday, January 29, 2012 at 11:59PM (PT).
• Entrants must enter using a valid email address and/or Twitter account to win.
• A maximum of two (2) entries per person — one within the comments at the bottom of this post, and a second entry via Twitter addressed to me @karenmbb.
• Contest is open to individuals of any country who have reached the age of majority according to their local laws (18 in the United States with these exceptions: Alabama and Nebraska, 19; Mississippi, 21).
• Sephora eGift Certificates can only be redeemed online and are not valid in stores or available for purchase or redemption in Canada. International winners may opt to substitute the Sephora eGift card prize for $50 sent directly to their email address by PayPal instead.
• Tabs and I (heretofore referred to as “T-Money and K-Dawg”) will select one (1) winner at random from the entries either left in the comments at the bottom of this blog post or addressed to @karenmbb on Twitter.
• The winner will be announced here within 48 hours of the deadline.
• Void where prohibited by law.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

• WINNER: The giveaway is closed now, and the winner is Christina! Congratulations, Christina! If you entered but didn’t win this time around, keep trying, and click here to enter any ongoing giveaways before you jet. 🙂

• WINNER: The giveaway is closed now, and the winner is Kristi! Congratulations, Kristi! If you entered but didn’t win this time around, keep trying, and click here to enter any ongoing giveaways before you jet. 🙂

Up and at ’em, home skillet. Good morning to ya!

I’m in a great mood right now. Must be the leftover high from my yoga class last night. That, and I slept surprisingly well. My body is like, “WHOA! A good night’s sleep, Karen? Uh, yeah, let’s do that again.”

How are things on your end of the keyboard? What do you have on your plate today? I hope it’s something fun. There are a few things I should be doing around the house right now (like laundry, for one), but I’d much rather check in with you and sneak in a run. 🙂

A little later today I’m meeting my friends Jen and Cindy in San Francisco for brunch. Last time we got together was at Jen’s baby’s baptism a couple months ago, so it’ll be nice to catch up.

We’re going to this place called Absinthe Brasserie & Bar because, rumor has it, they make a mean french fry, and Cindy’s been on a mission to find the best fries in the city. For a mission like that, I’m happy to assist.

Just think… Imagine being that first person who decided to fry a potato. Talk about “Eureka!” moments, am I right?

Before I hit the treadmill, why don’t we have a giveaway?

• One (1) Sephora eGift card containing $50 sent to the winner by email (international readers, you may opt to receive $50 sent by PayPal instead).

• There are two ways to enter, 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, like, who makes your favorite french fry? Funniest name for a yoga pose? What’s the last skincare product you applied? Getting as specific as possible, how would you describe the color of your hair? What mascara have you been liking lately? — you get the idea.
• Second, you can enter by following me on Twitter @karenmbb and retweeting (RT) the following message:
  • Follow @karenmbb and RT to Win a $50 eGift Card from Sephora! http://bit.ly/yfkvuj

• The deadline to enter is Sunday, January 8, 2012 at 11:59PM (PT).
• Entrants must enter using a valid email address and/or Twitter account to win.
• A maximum of two (2) entries per person — one within the comments at the bottom of this post, and a second entry via Twitter addressed to me @karenmbb.
• Contest is open to individuals of any country who have reached the age of majority according to their local laws (18 in the United States with these exceptions: Alabama and Nebraska, 19; Mississippi, 21).
• Sephora eGift Certificates can only be redeemed online and are not valid in stores or available for purchase or redemption in Canada. International winners may opt to substitute the Sephora eGift card prize for $50 sent directly to their email address by PayPal instead.
• Tabs and I (heretofore referred to as “T-Money and K-Dawg”) will select one (1) winner at random from the entries either left in the comments at the bottom of this blog post or addressed to @karenmbb on Twitter.
• The winner will be announced here within 48 hours of the deadline.
• Void where prohibited by law.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

• WINNER: The giveaway is closed now, and the winner is Kristi! Congratulations, Kristi! If you entered but didn’t win this time around, keep trying, and click here to enter any ongoing giveaways before you jet. 🙂