Archives 2023

** THE GIVEAWAY IS closed **
This giveaway is closed, and the winner has been contacted (CONGRATULATIONS, LULLE!!!), but check back next Saturday for another giveaway.

What a day! I had an interesting, exciting one yesterday. That’s why I wasn’t around much. Tabs had to hold down the fort at MBB headquarters because I was in the city shooting five (!) videos for a makeup project later this year, and I’d never done anything quite that official before, with a producer and a director and props and big studio lights.

That’s different than how I typically do my videos in my living room, haha. The only thing missing was Tabs all up in my grill. hopefully it all works out, and I’m able to share the videos when they’re done.

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I’m still a little exhausted from having to be on so much yesterday, so I don’t feel like pushing myself this weekend. My priority is taking it easy. I ought to do some housecleaning and run some errands, but that’s it. If El Hub says he wants to go kayaking down a raging river, I may have to decline.

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I hope you had a good week, my friend. Please tell me someone did something good for you. I always wish that.

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

Enter by leaving a comment below.

Open to U.S. and international readers.

You should be 18 or older to enter (or otherwise an adult based on your local laws).

Your comment can be about anything at all, but here are some ideas if you’re stuck:

What’s your favorite non-sunscreen product that contains SPF?

Someone you know who talks A LOT?

Best musical makeup collaboration between a brand and an artist?

Have you ever tripped or fallen at an inopportune moment?

Your pick for best Lipstick of All Time?

A word you pronounce differently than many people?

One entry per person.

You should use a valid email address to win.

The giveaway ends on Monday, August 17, 2015 at 11:59 PM (Pacific Time).

Your friendly neighborhood charm addict,

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Karen

Sephora VIB legendary benefits starting soon! kind of. Let’s just state that it did not go off without a hitch…
You may be wondering, “So what in tarnation is this Monday Poll thing anyway!?”

Well, it isn’t precisely a poll. It’s much more of a continuously evolving (devolving?), somewhat random listing of concerns I’ve been putting out to visitors every Monday morning for the past seven years. (It’s like a kickstart for your brain.) I’ve always delighted in reading your answers in the comments, as well as I hope you delight in reading mine.

Describe your ideal hair day.
Long as well as loose barely-there beach waves with a great amount of volume, particularly around the roots, as well as extremely bit frizz (and no grays showing). My bangs should likewise lie completely to the side without any type of strange bumps or stray fly-aways.

Ah, bangs… I like ’em, however in some cases they seem like straight-up punishment.

Oh, as well as if/when a breeze comes along, the hair has to just keep getting much better as well as better. That would be a bomb-@ss hair day best there.

What’s your stance on duck-face selfies?
I treat ’em like red pepper flakes (in that a bit goes a long way). I believe they can be adorable every when in a fantastic while, like when every three or four months, however when every other picture is a duck face, I believe that’s a bit much for me. however it’s just a personal preference.

When was the last time you tried some nail art, as well as exactly how did it turn out?
Hmm… I believe it was around last January, as well as I don’t keep in mind precisely what I did, however I keep in mind it being a mess.

Basically, I’m not the hippest homegirl on the block when it concerns nail art. I believe some people are fantastic at it, as well as I’m blown away by what they do, however I barely have the patience these days to paint my paws a single color, much less add an accent nail!

3 things you’d never, ever wear?
1. A bowl cut
2. A cropped white leather jacket with additional long fringe
3. Capri pants that aren’t workout pants (don’t get me started on this)

Today I’m feeling __________.
Really great about the week, even though it’s going to be crazy busy. I have rather a few visits organized (a doctor’s visit tomorrow, a huge blogging job later this week, a work lunch one day, as well as a few other things), however I did some planning over the weekend, as well as so I feel well prepared.

I haven’t been this organized in a truly long time, as well as it feels great.

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Your turn. just copy as well as paste the complying with concerns into a comment with your answers. I look ahead to reading ’em!

1. explain your ideal hair day.
2. What’s your stance on duck-face selfies?
3. When was the last time you tried some nail art, as well as exactly how did it turn out?
4. 3 things you’d never, ever wear?
5. Today I’m feeling __________.

Hello as well as great morning, sweetpea. I’m sitting right here at my desk, continuously refreshing the Sephora site since I’m waiting on their VIB Rouge legendary benefits program to start.

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The store’s doing a promotion where you can money in your VIB points for some awesome gift sets, as well as I’ve been hoarding my points for years! Literally, years. So I’ve got my eye on this YSL set with a whole lot of eyeshadow palettes as well as mascaras in it. Everything’s very first come, very first serve, as well as Cave woman Karen is hovering around the campfire waiting to pounce…

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How’s your Monday coming along? Peaceful, simple as well as full of kitties, I hope.

Your friendly community charm addict,

Karen

wearing colors from Kat Von D’s new limited edition star Studded Eyeshadow book ($55) on my eyes
The first time I saw Kat Von D’s new $55 star Studded Eyeshadow Book, all cloaked in black with that star pattern on the outside, I thought, “Ooh! It looks like something Slash would wear on his wedding day.”

Imagine my surprise when I opened it and found 24 uber-organized eyeshadows grouped into efficient color-coordinated quads.

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I dunno… Chaos just strikes me as a lot more rock ‘n’ roll, ya know?

Each of the four-color subsections includes a base, lid, crease and accent shade, like something you might find over at a a lot more formal, buttoned-up line like Trish McEvoy, but don’t let that deceive you — these shadows still have major rawr.

There’s also a helluva lot a lot more glitter.

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The Kat Von D star Studded Eyeshadow book ($55)

When Tabs keeps me up all night and I wake up with only two functional braincells the following morning, star Studded’s creative layout must come in handy. That said, nowhere does it say you have to stick to the color combos in the prearranged quads.

Since Kat included a great range of finishes (mattes, sheens, shimmers and glitters), colors (neutrals and brights) and pigment levels (from sheer to opaque), and all of the shades work together harmoniously, feel complimentary to go off script and crank out looks that are your own.

Swatches from the left: Sola, Nephilim, Platonic, Mandala, Damned, Division, Depeche and Brass Knuckles
Swatches from the left: Anti-Star, Estrella, Starflyer, Black Star, Banshee, Violator, Gothica and fascination Street
From the left: Moz, heaven Knows, Leather, Smiths, Crosses, Covenant, Cult and Craft

But before you bust out your blending brushes, a word of warning: the fallout from these shadows is fairly intense. On the one hand, the fluffy, featherweight formula makes them easy to scoot around and blend, but it also makes them…yearn for the open road! Of my face! When I wear this palette, I absolutely have to do my eyes first, clean up the fallout, and then followup with my base makeup; otherwise, it’s La Ciudad de hot Mess.

My foundation here is Laura Mercier flawless Fluide foundation in Chai, and I’m also wearing MAC Powder blush in Cantaloupe on my cheeks and Tom Ford Lip color Matte in first Time on my lips.

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Rock ‘n’ roll rebels who like their appeal with bite won’t be disappointed by this well-organized palette, with its cheeky names and flashy finishes, but they better brace themselves for a quick jaunt through fallout city.

PRICE: $55
AVAILABILITY: limited edition, available now online and at Sephora
MAKEUP and appeal blog RATING: B+

Your friendly neighborhood appeal addict,

Karen

My darlings,

One of the concerns I’m continuously asked while on place posing for kitty modeling campaigns is, “Tabs, exactly how can I be as fantastic as you are?”

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First of all, it is possible. I understand that I make it seem simple sometimes, however I wasn’t always this fabulous. It took a great deal of difficult work as well as purr-severance, as well as now I’d like to share the lessons I’ve discovered with you.

1. Cultivate a network of fantastic buddies (and frenemies)

One of the very best methods to discover exactly how to be much more fantastic is to spend time with other fantastic friends. view exactly how they deal with expert as well as personal situations. When do they purr? When do they meow? exactly how do they strut as well as pose? Observe their mindset as well as mannerisms, as well as take every chance to network as well as satisfy even much more fantastic friends. quite soon, as a few of their fabulousness scrubs off on you, you’ll begin acting much more fabulously too.

While you’re at it, it’s likewise essential to cultivate a few frenemies as well, since you understand what they state about keeping your buddies close as well as your enemies closer. That, as well as there’s likewise no such thing as poor press when it concerns being fabulous.

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2. hire a social network strategist

Social media is a essential element of brand administration these days, however in striving to ended up being a world class kitty supermodel, your time will be limited, so I suggest hiring a expert to assist you deal with the daily upkeep of your numerous social network channels, somebody who can publish everyday beauty photos of you as well as bring around your iPhone. This way, you’ll have much more time to link with your fans.

3. shop where other fantastic cats aren’t shopping

Because true fabulousness is about paving your own way, be a trendsetter, instead of a pattern follower.

For instance, if all of your buddy cats are buying at Chanel this season, buck the pattern as well as shop at Prada or Dior. create your own path, as well as be your own cat.

4. star on a truth TV show

Even though you’re destined for greatness, it never hurts to get a bit nudge, as well as there are few much better methods to get yourself available than by starring on a truth TV show.

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If you’ve already completed the very first three steps, you’re well on your method to being fabulous. A television audience will notice, which will propel you as well as your profession to even higher heights. truth TV superstardom assists you keep your name in the media spotlight as well as on the suggestion of everyone’s tongue.

5. serve up your manager sauce

With a fantastic new method of dealing with yourself on a daily basis, don’t take any type of guff from anyone, since true fabulousness can’t be suppressed or denied. So be your own cat, as well as show ’em who’s boss.

Now go forth, as well as be fabulous!
Tabs

Dear Diary,

With my birthday coming up (I turn 10-ish on Tuesday!), I’ve been feeling particularly generous, and to share the love, I made a decision to grant both of my assistants a few days off for good behavior.

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My motives weren’t entirely selfless, however. truth is, I could really use some time to myself.

I know that my public identity is one of a jet-setting tabby who goes from party to party, hanging out with Bono one night and RyGos the next, but let’s be real. That’s absolutely true, but often I just want to chill, and you know what they say — a cat’s home is his castle.

So I sent my people to NOLA while I celebrate turning 10 here, but I won’t be flying completely solo. After all, no cat is an island. My favorite petsitter will also be here to dote on me, and one of his responsibilities will be working the remotes so that I can catch up on game of Thrones.

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When I’m not napping, of course.

Oh, I can’t wait to sleep in. Those early kitty modeling call times are killer! No big birthday blowouts for me this year. All I want is a few days to rest, reflect and recharge.

But Diary, you know me. I can’t sit on my butt for long (well…). I also plan to inventory my cupboards. growing up on the streets, I learned the value of saving for a rainy day, and there’s something comforting about knowing exactly how much food I have in my pantry.

I’m probably also going to squeeze in a workout or two, and I’ve been training with Stephen Curry of the golden state Warriors. He works on improving his agility for basketball, and I work on my agility for birding and kitty modeling.

I think it’s going to be a relaxing, fulfilling birthday week, and I’m really looking forward to it.

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I’ll catch up with you soon.

Love,

Tabs

The make up For ever artist palette Vol. 2 colors You Crave ($42)
Current cravings:

A Pink Power Smoothie, even though I already had one today for breakfast.
Is there an unwritten policy I don’t know about against drinking two of the same kind of smoothies in one day?! #deepthoughts.

A hug from Tabs, because I haven’t seen him considering that I fed him gravy this morning.
He normally “supervises” me in my office during the mornings because he likes the sun in here, but I think he’s terrified of the new pink shelves, so he’s hiding.

The poppin’ pigments in make up For Ever’s new $42 artist palette Vol. 2 colors You Crave

Make Up For ever artist palette Vol. 2 colors You Crave ($42)
May brings us two new artist Palettes from MUFE — Vol. 1, Nudes You Need, which I played with yesterday, and this brighter one here, Vol. 2, called colors You Crave.

Now, if my stomach rumbles through these next few paragraphs in this post, I apologize. You see, I am currently craving lunch, in addition to these colors.

The palette houses nine pans, which are set up into color-coordinating columns of three (or rows, if you turn it sideways), of make up For ever eyeshadow in their exceptionally soft, crazy creamy gel-dash-powder formula (they reformulated their eyeshadows last year).

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So, how soft are they? Well, this morning El Hub stopped by my desk to loiter as he often does and asked what I was doing. before I could answer, he reached out and touched the palette.

Of course, he gouged a big divot into one of the pans just by brushing his Tarzan hand against it, so you have to be a little careful with these… all of that is just to say that they’re very soft. They nearly feel like a cream, but they’re not. They aren’t wet at all. They’re still powders, but they’re squishy powders.

I haven’t been wearing this batch of colors for very long today, but the neutrals I wore yesterday, which I applied around 10 in the morning and removed around 8 at night, had lost about a third of their intensity over that time.

Not bad, but not epic either.

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But I wasn’t using my regular NARS pro Prime at the time because I was trying out a new concealer (new to me, IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye, which I’ll be examining soon) and was using it on my lids as a primer, so that could have affected the overall longevity of the shadows.

Make Up For ever artist palette Vol. 2 colors You Crave ($42)
Wearing the new make up For ever artist palette Vol. 2 colors You Crave on my lids
S-924, ME-302 and ME-930
For this look I took MUFE’s lead and used the three coordinating colors in the middle column. I used the top shade as my highlight (the shade on the left in the above pic), then mixed the teal and the sort of metallic green, which looks a little like MAC Club, together. I mixed them on the back of my hand and applied that on my lids.

There was a lot of shimmer going on, so I also wanted a transition shade. I ended up grabbing MAC texture and using that in my crease.

I also did a little something-something in the outer corners for depth using the black shade from the MUFE Nudes You need palette.

ME-910, ME-232 and ME-700
From the left: I-872, D-552 and ME-512
All told, Vol. 2 here is absolutely flashier than Vol. 1, but I think Vol. 1 is probably a lot more beneficial day to day — absolutely for me. I think Vol. 2 is a good every-once-in-a-while palette, like a fancy dress that you only take out every once in a while…unless you wear colors like these everyday, in which case, good for you!

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But normally speaking I see this one as a lot more of a special event palette for me, or, in combination with a batch of neutrals, a good source of spunky accent colors.

PRICE: $42
AVAILABILITY: available now online and at make up For ever counters and Sephora
MAKEUP and appeal blog RATING: A- (only thing is, I think the three lightest shades are a tad redundant)

Your friendly neighborhood appeal addict,

Karen

excuse me, um…why doesn’t this tube have a cat on it?

Dear friendly person at Paul & Joe,

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A kitty cat somewhere on the packaging of your ideal makeup primer would have turned it into the most Purrrrfect makeup Primer, in my humble cray-cray cat lady opinion. Please take this under advisement for future product modifications. thank you.

Feline wordplay aside, $42 Paul & Joe ideal makeup primer is one of two new makeup primers coming from Paul & Joe this fall, and it does a little bit of everything. It’s a tinted gel makeup primer to prep skin for foundation by filling in pores and fine lines, and it also moisturizes and improves wear time while adding a sheer veil of tinted color.

This is the option you want if you’re seeking heavy-duty spackling.

Swatch of Paul & Joe ideal makeup primer in 02

It does what any good primer should, mellowing out my pores, and one pump does the trick for my entire face, leaving homegirl to wonder, “Where my pores at?!” The gel formula dries to a smooth, canvas-like powder finish ready for foundation shenanigans.

Like many Paul & Joe makeup, it has a strong fragrance. My nose detects notes of Russian Blue, Ragdoll and Siamese…

Totally kitten (kidding) ya! It smells like baby powder, orange flowers and jasmine.

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Paul & Joe ideal makeup primer arrives in two shades — 01, a slightly bright ochre, and 02, a natural ochre (and the shade I wear) — this August 2015 online and at Paul & Joe counters.

PRICE: $42
AVAILABILITY: Coming August 2015 to Paul & Joe counters and online
MAKEUP and charm blog RATING: A- (a great, albeit a tad pricey, all-around primer)

Your friendly neighborhood charm addict,

Karen

The Essie holiday 2015 fringe Luxeeffects Collection nail polishes ($8.50 each, available now online, at salons, drugstores and Ulta)
Like a confetti party for your paws, Essie’s four new holiday 2015 Luxeeffects nail polishes have So. Much. Glitter.

Glorious gobs of glittering, glistening, lens-flare inducing glitter!

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And the glitter comes in different shapes, colors and sizes, all of it suspended in a clear nail polish base, so you won’t be stuck staring at standard-issue sparkle. No, way. There’s gunmetal gray and pink glitter in fringe Factor, platinum and cobalt in Frilling Me Softly, copper and bronze in Tassel Shaker and maroon sparkly flecks in fashion Flares.

Essiei fashion Flares
Essie Tassel Shaker

Essie fringe Factor

Essie Frilling Me Softly

I’m wearing each of the four by themselves in the swatches here (two coats, by the way), but because they all have a clear base, you can also use them to add a glittery topcoat to something else.

Essie fashion Flares
Essie Tassel Shaker
Essie fringe Factor
Essie Frilling Me Softly
The little glitter strips totally remind me of confetti.

All four $8.50 bottles are limited edition, and you can find them now online and at salons, drugstores and Ulta.

The only thing is…yup, like most glitters, they’re tough as nails to remove (ha, get it?). I do it right after I get out of the shower, and I use Essie naturally clean Purifying polish Remover.

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Stuff is terrific at removing glitters.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Delicious!

I indicate it went really well. My friend Alis who cuts my hair took off about four inches and gave me choppy layers.

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When she was done I felt like I’d lost 15 pounds, LOL!

Sigh… If it were only that easy (she said, reaching across her desk for another dark chocolate star cookie from Trader Joe’s…).

So my hair hasn’t been this short in three or four years. I’m delighted with it for now, but you know how it goes… I’m already thinking about growing it out again to give myself something to do.

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Hair goals.

Now that I think about it, I haven’t had a horrible haircut experience in a while (knocks on wood), thanks to Alis at Fox + stone Salon. I used to bounce around between stylists all the time, because it was hard finding someone who knew how to discipline and control my wavy hair. whenever I went to a new stylist I’d get stressed out. I never knew if I’d leave the place with something passably respectable or full-on wonktacular.

It only took, oh, 30 or so years to find someone who really understood my hair, and now we’re at the point where I know I can just sit in the chair and depend on Alis to do whatever she wants, and I’ll be good to go.

How about you? how was your last haircut? Did it go well, or was it a bit of a nightmare? Inquiring minds want to know.

I’ve literally lost count of how lots of times I’ve enjoyed this movie, but whenever I see it on Netflix I hit play. It’s as if forces from above take control of me and make me enjoy it…

Yet every single time I do see it I’m in awe of Holly Golightly’s fashion sense, and I think to myself, “Why can’t I look that cool?”

So I think I’m going to institute something new in my personal fashion life called the Holly Golightly Litmus test where I ask, “Would Holly Golightly wear this?”

Starting with this Sam Edelman leopard coat…

Happy Friday from (once again) rainy northern California! I feel like somebody has taken my little patch of hillside and transported it to Portland without me knowing it.

Whatever you’re up to today, I hope your feet are warm and dry, because wet socks = misery.

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Your friendly neighborhood appeal addict,

Karen

P.S.

What do you perform in Napa on a long, lazy weekend?

You take a nap.

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Or two.

Or three. You know, #priorities.

My good friends Jen as well as Cindy as well as I all agreed that the primary thing we wished to do on our girls’ weekend in Napa last weekend had to include maximum relaxation, as well as yes, napping was on the agenda. At the end of the weekend we tallied up our naps, as well as right here are a few of the locations where we collectively napped…

The pool (not inside however near it)

The covered lounge area adjacent to the pool (next to a significant bowl of French fries!)

In the “Serenity Room” at the Meritage hotel health club Terra

In the heavy steam space inside the health club area

In the whirlpool lounge inside the health club area

In our hotel room

On the hotel patio

Haha! who understood that three women on holiday might sleep so much as well as in so lots of places?

Besides napping in Napa, we likewise had some yummy meals (my preferred was Sunday brunch at a adorable bistro called Grace’s Table in downtown Napa), as well as we did some sightseeing along the waterfront…

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It was a great time, however I’m glad to be back house in Novato. Napping in Napa is fun, however napping in Novato is quite great, too.

Your friendly community appeal addict,

Karen