So moody! Love it. Bobbi Brown Black Pearl Shimmer Nail Polish ($19), from the Caviar & Oyster collection.
This Pearl Is My Jam
The Laura Mercier Art Deco Muse Collection Artfully Channels 1920s Paris in Its Intense Reds and Gilded Eye Colours
I dunno what was going on at the dentist’s office today — maybe the staff felt like starting the Thanksgiving holiday early — but they were playing some crazy-@ss samba music over the speakers! If someone hadn’t been rutting around inside my mouth at the time with a very sharp hook, I totally would’ve been down to shake my maracas.
But since the tunes didn’t have any lyrics that I could mentally sing along to (they usually play oldies), I kept hearing things in the other rooms… Scary things, like the whine of a very loud drill, and snippets of a convo with the words, “probe” and “bleeding,” being thrown around repeatedly.
Oh, gawd!
Somehow, I managed not to lose my sh*z. No tears or passing out, so yay for small victories!
After my visit, though, I felt like I needed a treat, so I sought solace at the closest peaceful refuge — the makeup counter at Nordie’s. 🙂
I’m almost ashamed to admit that I nearly pushed through a gang of older ladies clad in Burberry from head to toe to get to the new Art Deco Muse display at the Laura Mercier counter.
It caught my eye from across the store… So much shimmer, so much red and gold and OM NOM NOM!
I’d seen the collection online a few weeks ago and, truth be told, didn’t think much of it at the time. Hrmph! Looks like pretty standard holiday fare with red lips and gold eyes.
But, GURL! I must say it’s much more compelling in person.
Inspired by mid-1920s Parisian Art Deco, the limited edition holiday launch features metallic shades like gold and bronze, and rich reds, burgundy and black.
The quilted Illuminating Eye Colours ($24 each) spoke to me. I love shiny metallics, and I almost swooned right there in the store after swatching the four shades on the back of my hand.
Laura did not hold back on the pigment with these powder shadows, and they’re so downy soft that they practically melt into my skin…
I hope I dream tonight, and in my dream I’m wearing Gilded Bronze. 🙂 On my NC 42 skin, it’s a beautifully warm (at least I think so) grayish taupe.
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With 14 Full-Size Pencil Liners, the $160 Make Up For Ever Ultimate Eye Liner Collection Draws Beauty Lovers Into Its Pigmented Embrace
Ouch! I know I asked you to pinch me to see if I was dreaming, but dagnabbit! — did you have to pinch so hard?!
That’s alright… I forgive you. I’m sure you’re probably just excited about the new $160 Make Up For Ever Ultimate Eye Liner Collection like I am and couldn’t control yourself. Heck, I might have done the same thing.
The new limited edition release of pencil eye liners comes fully equipped with 14 full-size eyeliners in three different formulas to make holiday dreams come true (and to cover all of your liner bases). With seven long-wearing Aqua Eyes pencils, three smudgy Crayon Kohls and four vibrant liquid Aqua Liners, it really does try to live up to its name as the Ultimate Eye Liner Collection.
And the price also represents a hefty savings (even though $160 is still a ton of tacos).
If you were to buy all 14 of these liners separately, it would set you back $269, but in the kit, the liners work out to $11 each, which is a lot less than the $17-23 MUFE usually charges.
The colors in the kit should flatter a wide range of skin tones. MUFE thoughtfully covered most of the major color bases, sprinkling some fun greens, purples and a shimmery champagne into a mix of everyday basic black, brown and gray shades.
I would’ve loved to also see a bronze or a gold here, but that’s probably just my warm skin tone talking. 🙂
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You’re Invited to a Formal Affair
The Sonia Kashuk Formal Affair Face Palette ($19.99) makes me want to get dressed up. The limited edition holiday palette comes with a bronzer, two blushes and four powder eyeshadows, and you can find it now at Target stores. 🙂
Makeup and Beauty Blog Monday Poll, Vol. 246
You might be wondering, “So what the heck is this Monday Poll thing anyway?”
Well, it isn’t much of a poll. It’s more just a constantly evolving (devolving?), somewhat random list of questions I’ve been putting out to readers every Monday morning for the past four years. I’ve always enjoyed reading your answers in the comments, and I hope you enjoy reading mine.
- Mood:
Really good. I’ve got some of that holiday spirit coursing through my veins. I’m excited about hosting Thanksgiving at my house this year (first time since moving in). Still no dining room table because it’s on back-order for a few more weeks, but we’ll make do. I’ll just requisition Tabs’ office desk and use it for the dining room. 🙂 - I get a thrill from…
- Cleaning the house from top to bottom (I’m so my mother’s daughter)!
- Plucking those stiff, little hairs on my chin that seemingly appear out of nowhere (they’re like mushrooms).
- Singing on the treadmill.
- Wearing my blue Katy Perry wig around the house.
- If you could instantly change your hair right now, what would you do?
I’d add 6 inches of length, darken the base to something close to black and give myself chocolate highlights.I’ll probably do that anyway in the not-to-distant future, but I’m still enjoying my current caramel highlight phase.
- Are you cooking anything for Thanksgiving this year?
A few things. It’s potluck, so folks are bringing some of the sides, and Whole Foods is taking care of the turkey (I didn’t want to use this year for my on-the-job training).I’m making a fish dish, corn pudding, roasting some broccoli, and baking my world famous blueberry peach cobbler!
- If you had two tickets for the Oscars, whom would you bring as your date?
El Hub, of course! (Tabs is already going.) Or my mom, if El Hub can’t rent a tux in time, LOL! - What’s one of your favorite ways to veg out?
Twitter, for sure (I’m @karenmbb). I like the chatting back and forth, and it’s a great way to get instant feedback about things.I can’t keep it on all day, though. If I do, I don’t get anything done.
- Are you a flirt?
I think sometimes I can come across that way, but I’m just friendly. Okay…maybe I’m a little bit of a flirt. - Do you bite your nails?
No. Hasn’t held much allure for me, but I am guilty of picking at my cuticles.And now that we’re talking about it, I’m having to use all of my willpower to resist the temptation to do it now…
- If you could change anything about your life right now, what would it be?
I wish I could say I wouldn’t change anything at all, because that’s the stock answer, but…I wish I already had kids. - Weekly goals:
I’ve really got to manage my time wisely this week (yes, I realize that that’s one of my recurring weekly goals). I also need to paint my toenails, because they desperately need some love. Other than that, I just want to keep a positive attitude, no matter how busy I get, and have a nice Thanksgiving holiday with my family.All pretty basic stuff.
Good morning, sweets. 🙂
Guess who stayed up waaay too late last night reading a riveting new novel by the Pulitzer Prize winning writing team, Fluffy & Bonkers, called The Devious Book for Cats?
LOL! Okay, maybe not. MBB reader Michelle, who pet assists for two tuxedo kitty sisters, sent this link to what sounds like a purrrfect book for cats and the ladies who love them.
It addresses tabby-friendly topics like, how to lay claim to boxes, how to wake up humans, and what to do when you find yourself stuck in a tree.
Riveting topics!
While I read a few excerpts to Tabs, please let me know how you’re doing by filling out today’s Monday Poll.
To complete the Monday Poll, just copy the following list, and paste it with your answers in the comments.
Le List
1. Mood:
2. I get a thrill from…
3. If you could instantly change your hair right now, what would you do?
4. Are you cooking anything for Thanksgiving this year?
5. If you had two tickets for the Oscars, whom would you bring as your date?
6. What’s one of your favorite ways to veg out?
7. Are you a flirt?
8. Do you bite your nails?
9. If you could change anything about your life right now, what would it be?
10. Weekly goals:
Happy early Thanksgiving! Can you believe this will be our sixth together?! 🙂
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 218
Dear Tabby is written by Tabs the Cat, commonly regarded as “the world’s first plus-size kitty supermodel.” Founded in mid 2012, it has quickly become the most widely syndicated cat advice column on earth — known for its fresh, feline perspective on lifestyle, fashion and style issues affecting cats and humans.
A plant sitter’s dilema
DEAR TABBY,
A feline friend of mine recently left on a month-long vacation and put me in charge of her favorite catnip plant. The other day, in a moment of weakness, I ate it…
The entire plant, leaving nothing but stems.
And my friend had left detailed instructions on the plant’s proper care. Nowhere on her list did it say, “Eat plant.”
What should I do?? Should I come clean and admit my crime, even though it’s too late to save the plant, or secretly have my assistant bring home a replacement from the gardening store?
— Not So Green Thumb
DEAR NOT SO GREEN THUMB:
Believe it or not, yours is a very common problem, and I’ve been on both sides of the situation.
On a vacation last year I left my cherished catnip plant, which I use strictly for medicinal purposes, under the care of the Russian Blue next door.
Upon my return, all I found was an empty pot lying on its side.
Robbers? I thought, but then the Russian Blue confessed. He admitted to eating it, which angered me at first, but then he offered to purchase me a new one.
I accepted his offer and appreciated his honestly. After all, we all make mistakes. I’ve certainly made a few of mine…
So, yes, I think you should come clean. Apologize, and offer to buy her a new plant. Maybe also include a few cans of gravy to make peace.
Truthfully, even if you tried to replace the plant without your friend knowing, chances are she’d figure it out. It’s not easy to find thriving, mature catnip plants at local gardening stores (trust me, I’ve looked).
New roommate rocks one cat’s world
DEAR TABBY,
My landlord/assistant (don’t ask) recently invited a new kitty roommate into our home, and let me be frank — I hate him.
He hogs the bed, the bathroom, steals my toys and even sleeps in MY stinky sock drawer. Oh, and he likes to nap in the same sunny patches that I like to nap in on the floor.
On top of all that…he’s always trying to be cute, so I feel like I have to be in “performance mode” all day long, constantly flashing my tum and looking adorable.
It’s exhausting!
What should I do? I’m tempted to just run away, but I still have a pretty sweet thing going here. There’s a steady supply of gravy, daily walks, and my pet assistant is also a licensed massage therapist.
— Roommate Troubles in Rohnert Park
DEAR ROOMMATE TROUBLES:
You know the old saying, “Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer”? Truer words were never spoken. I believe every cat should have that phrase crossed-stitched on a pillow.
In your case, I think you should make the next move. Do something nice for the intruder, like offer to groom him or spoon the next time you’re both napping.
Build up some trust, because not only will it bring you peace of mind, it’s also a good way to carefully monitor the new cat’s activities.
And who knows? Maybe one day the two of you will become real friends.
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Jungle Cat
MRRROW! The new Dolce & Gabbana Animalier Bronzer ($57), available now at Saks Fifth Avenue stores and saksfifthfavenue.com.
Outtakes
