giveaway

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

Good morning, young lady. 🙂 It’s the weekend, and wouldn’t ya know it? I feel a little out of it today, so please bear with me if you can. I’m not sure why, but it’s like everything’s moving in slow motion for me. I didn’t sleep poorly last night, so I don’t think that’s why. I just…don’t know, feel…slower…than…usual. And Tabs is really bothered about it, too, as you can tell from this very revealing pic:

I believe it accurately conveys how he feels about my mental struggles this morning: “Talk to the butt.”

See, when Tabs is having “one of those mornings,” he just flees to the safety of his cat tower and sleeps it off.

Wouldn’t it be nice if we could do that sometimes? — flee to our cat towers.

I’m serious. I wish I had a giant cat tower built to human scale. It would have to be about 42 feet tall, though, with better carpeting, and would probably require an elevator because I ain’t climbing up the side of no 42-foot-tall cat tower. I’m not THAT crazy, LOL!

While I research construction costs, why don’t we have a little fun this morning and get this weekend off to a good start? 🙂 I think you know what that means. It’s…

• 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, what do you do when you have “one of those mornings?” Have you ever worked on a ranch or a farm? — wait, I just asked that one last week. Seriously, how do I come up with these questions, LOL?! Have you ever worked on a farm? I mean come on, am I completely out of my mind? 🙂 I think you know how we do this by now. A comment about anything at all, but today, the wackier the better.
• 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/p3QSYA

• The deadline to enter is Sunday, July 24, 2011 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 @the_rainebeaux! Congratulations, @the_rainebeaux! 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 Nekosan! Congratulations, Nekosan! If you entered but didn’t win this time around, keep trying, and click here to enter any ongoing giveaways before you jet. 🙂
  

Good morrow, fellow denizen of the living world. I’d say “rise and shine,” but that might give bad sunburns to the undead readers of this morning’s post…

Yup, the vamps are back in Bon Temps, and I for one am thrilled! I gotta admit, though, I had my doubts after the first episode of the new season. That Power Rangers/LOTR vignette in the San Fernando Valley Fairyland looked a little too much like the landing party scenes from the original Star Trek series, if ya know what I mean. I kept expecting Captain Kirk to jump onscreen with a phaser and shout, “Sookie, this way! Enterprise, beam us up!”

LOL! But seriously, haven’t the past two episodes been great? I’m totally digging the new storylines with King Bill, Eric, the coven, and Jason and the were-panthers (great name for a band!), and I really like not knowing where things are headed.

What do ya think about the relationship between Jessica and Hoyt? Doomed or meant to be? Part of me likes Jessica better when she’s flying solo just to see what she does with her makeup when she goes out, ha!

Pam, as usual, has been looking fierce. I wonder how she feels about Tarte…

One lucky lady will win…

• One Tarte for True Blood Limited-Edition Palette (a $52 value).

“You know how brands will sometimes haphazardly place unrelated shades beside each other in a palette? That’s one of my eye palette pet peeves, but I like how this palette groups smokey shadows in the lower right hand corner, warmer jewel tones in the lower left and the neutrals at the top. It’s conducive to creativity (at least I think so) and makes it easy to sift through the 17 shades.

Baby vamps probably wouldn’t realize this yet, but after a few hundred years, the nights begin to blur together. The way these shadows seamlessly blend together reminds me of that aspect of everlasting undead life. It takes barely a few flicks from an eyeshadow brush to transition from one shade to the next, even when I’m wearing several colors on my lids.” Read more…

• 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 happen to know your blood type? What’s your favorite mythological/fantasy creature? What’s your favorite red lipstick? Do you own any products from Tarte? How do you like your steaks cooked? What’s your favorite makeup palette now? — 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 the New Tarte for True Blood Limited-Edition Eye Palette (a $52 Value) http://bit.ly/pzB0sq

• The deadline to enter is Sunday, July 17, 2011 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 years of age or older in the United States with these exceptions: Alabama and Nebraska, 19; Mississippi, 21).
• 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 Nekosan! Congratulations, Nekosan! 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 Deanna G.! Congratulations, Deanna! If you entered but didn’t win this time around, keep trying, and click here to enter any ongoing giveaways before you jet. 🙂
  

Good morning, glory. 🙂 I hope your day got off to a wonderful start. I’m slowly waking up out here. Got my big Christmas mug filled with coffee in my paws, so that should do the trick. It’s a little chilly and overcast now, but it looks like the kind of gray that usually burns off by the afternoon. I’m keeping my fingers crossed.

I can’t recall having anything I’m supposed to do this weekend…at least nothing I can remember now, and that’s perfectly fine by me. Really, I’d just like to relax, maybe go to a late breakfast at Marvin’s, vacuum the house — correction, I’d like Tabs to vacuum the house, seeing as it’s his fur that gets all over the place — and maybe catch up on my reading and brainless TV.

Brainless TV. Ya know, nowadays, that’s my favorite kind. It’s comforting and easy to digest, like good porridge.

Of course, I just thought of a show that I’m looking forward to watching that doesn’t fit into the brainless TV category at all. It’s called Torchwood. Have you seen it? It’s sort of like the X-Files, Angel and Dr. Who all rolled into one. I loved the first few seasons when it was on BBC America. It’s been on a long hiatus, but it’s back again with a new season, and now it’s on Starz and takes place in LA (I believe). I missed the first episode last Friday. Gotta try and track that down…

Anywho, I’m going to plant myself on the couch for a few minutes, but I’ll be back soon.

Oh, I almost forgot. It’s also…

• 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 female character on TV? Have you ever worked on a ranch or a farm? When you hear the word “beauty,” what’s the first word that pops into your head? Who makes your very favorite nail polish in the entire world? What do you think about camping? — 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/rgFFOk

• The deadline to enter is Sunday, July 10, 2011 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 Deanna G.! Congratulations, Deanna! 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 Rocio! Congratulations, Rocio! If you entered but didn’t win this time around, keep trying, and click here to enter any ongoing giveaways before you jet. 🙂
  

Oh, summer, how I’ve missed you so! Last night it was warm enough to walk around outside in a T-shirt without a jacket or sweater.

Without a jacket or sweater. Seriously, I still can’t believe it was real!

After months that dragged on like years of “partly cloudy skies,” it was so nice to just stroll down a bustling boulevard crowded with happy people out taking advantage of the clear, comfortable night. With a cup of ice cream in my hands, I walked along Fourth Street in downtown San Rafael looking up at stars — yes, real stars — that I’d almost forgotten were there.

I was wearing one of my favorite summertime lipsticks from MAC called Sandy B, a shimmery golden pink. I don’t know why, but I only think to wear it when it’s warm outside like it is now. It’s the same beautiful color all year round, but I guess I’ve grown to associate it with summer.

It was a perfect night — Sandy B Lipstick and MAC Evolution Revolution Lipglass on my lips, El Hub on my arm, ice cream in my hands and stars above my head. The only thing missing was a husky tabby by my side. 🙂

Have you ever worn MAC Sandy B? If not, perhaps today’s giveaway can help. Yup, it’s…

One lucky lady will win…

• One (1) tube of MAC Lipstick in Sandy B (a $14.50 value)

• 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, have you ever been to summer camp? Have you ever had a summer fling? How do you apply your lipstick (straight from the tube, with a brush, top/bottom lip first, atop a layer of lipliner…)? Are you doing anything fun for the Fourth of July? What’s your pet’s favorite toy? What’s a song that always gets your booty on the dance floor? — 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 Tube of MAC Sandy B Lipstick http://bit.ly/mw1T8J

• The deadline to enter is Sunday, July 3, 2011 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).
• 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 Rocio! Congratulations, Rocio! 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 Amy! Congratulations, Amy! If you entered but didn’t win this time around, keep trying, and click here to enter any ongoing giveaways before you jet. 🙂
  

What an exciting day. As far as Tuesdays go, this one gets a thumbs up. I’m just about to hit the haaaay for the night (Tabs needs his beauty sleep), but I wanted to say thank you for making today one of the best days of my life.

I hope you had a good one, too. Get some rest, and I’ll see you soon. 🙂

Before you go, however, it’s…

• One (1) MAC gift card containing $50 sent to the winner by mail (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, what was your very first MAC product? How many tubes of lipgloss do you own? What was the highlight of your day? Have you ever had a secret crush? — 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 Gift Card from MAC http://bit.ly/mwDmVp

• The deadline to enter is Thursday, June 23, 2011 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).
• MAC gift cards can be redeemed in stores and online for purchases. The winner may opt to substitute the MAC 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 Amy! Congratulations, Amy! 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 Amanda! Congratulations, Amanda! 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! And give it your all, too, because I sure could use a little help this morning in the rising and shining departments, if you know what I mean. I feel like I had too much coffee and tea yesterday, and now I have a caffeine hangover, or something like that. I’m not sure there is such a thing, but I feel like my brain cells aren’t awake yet. “Sure, you can get up, girl, but we’re sleeping in!”

Please bear with me today if I say something that doesn’t quite make sense, or if I go off on weird tangents.

Well, weirder than usual. 🙂

Oh, speaking of tangents, El Hub and I did go to that movie last night, Super 8. In a word: fascinating! Not so much the movie itself, although I did enjoy it, but just how authentically Steven Spielberg it feels. He produced the film, but J.J. Abrams directed, and in many ways it seems like a tribute to Spielberg’s ’80s movies like E.T. and Raiders of the Lost Ark — sort of a throwback to the Golden Age of movies with the spectator as a wide-eyed child, overwhelmed by sound and spectacle, people frantically running around, and lots of fast camera close-ups on faces during big revealing scenes. I grew up on a steady diet of that stuff, so it was fun and, at times, nostalgic to see another talented director faithfully imitate the style so well.

In the film, a group of middle-school friends circa 1979 are making a low-budget movie of their own, a zombie flick, and low-budget doesn’t do justice to their resources. All they really have is a commitment to making a good picture and their own belongings to use as props. Plus, the town they live in as the backdrop, and it’s while filming one scene that they decide to use a passing train to enhance their movie’s “production value.” Of course, that’s when something BIG happens and the story starts rolling. They find themselves caught in the middle of a catastrophic train crash with secret Air Force cargo, etc. etc. [INSERT ALIEN HERE].

I think the movie itself feels maybe a tad too long in the second half, but I really enjoyed it. Highly recommended, especially if you fondly recall Steven Spielberg’s older movies.

Hmm…

Okay, so I know that none of that had to do with makeup or beauty. See, I warned you about me today. 🙂

While I go try to get my brain cells out of bed, please stick around for a bit. It’s…

• One (1) Sephora eGift card containing $50 sent to the winner by email (or $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, have you ever helped friends film a low-budget movie? What’s the first movie you can remember going to see? Which actress strikes you as having consistently the best makeup? Have you ever thought about working as a movie makeup artist? Describe the most elaborate/theatrical makeup look you ever wore and what it was for (a big date, Halloween, a play) — 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/kSa1Oa

• The deadline to enter is Sunday, June 19, 2011 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. The winner may opt to substitute the Sephora eGift card prize for $50 sent directly to their email address by PayPal.
• 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 Amanda! Congratulations, Amanda! If you entered but didn’t win this time around, keep trying, and click here to enter any ongoing giveaways before you jet. 🙂