Whenever I come home from a trip — even if it’s just a day or two — Tabs is extra needy. He follows me around and won’t let me out of his sight.
I’m Not Letting You Outta My Sight, Lady

by Karen 9 Comments

Whenever I come home from a trip — even if it’s just a day or two — Tabs is extra needy. He follows me around and won’t let me out of his sight.
by Karen 12 Comments

Dang! It was burnin’ up in Redding this weekend. We’re talkin’ hot, like fry-an-egg-on-the-sidewalk hot.
It was so hot that charcoal briquettes were jumping out of the bag into the fire to cool off.
It was so hot that I used my finger as a curling iron.
It was so hot that Tabs would have been jealous (because he’s usually the hottest thing in the room).
In other words, it was hot!
We just walked in the door, and wouldn’t ya know it? — who texts, but none other than Tabs from the tarmac at the airport to ask for a ride home. I may not have mentioned this before, but I’m also his chauffer/airport shuttle (he doesn’t do public transpo).
Yeah, while El Hub and I were frying in Redding, Tabs was flying to and from Maui for a weekend of fun in the sun with Jay-Z, Beyonce and baby Blue.
Tabs must have sent about 10 pics over the past 24 hours from the beach, the pool and the spa at the Four Seasons.
Lucky cat.
I’m sure I’ll get all the deets in the car on the drive home.
I admit that sometimes it seems like Tabs lives this jet-setting playboy tabby lifestyle, but it’s not all about weekend getaways with hip-hop royalty. He also werks, and here are some of his current kitty modeling campaigns… 🙂

by Karen 11 Comments

In no particular order:
NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer in St. Moritz
Hourglass Oxygen Finishing Powder in No. 4
MAC Pro Longwear Bronzer in Nude on Board
Tom Ford Cheek Color in Love Lust
Urban Decay Afterglow Glide-On Cheek Tint in Score
MAC Extended Play Lash Mascara
MAC Eyeshadows in Soba, Concrete, Club, Tempting, Retrospeck and Sumptuous Olive
MAC Pro Longwear Concealer in NW25 and NC42
MAC Care Blends Essential Oils in Grapefruit + Chamomile
MAC Iridescent Powder/Loose in Golden Bronze
MAC Eye Kohl in Powersurge
MAC Kohl Power Eye Pencil in Feline
Shu Uemura Lash Curler
Laura Mercier Finishing Brush
MAC Brushes: 138 Tapered Face Brush, 188 Small Duo Fibre Face Brush, 217 Blending Brush, 239 Eye Shader Brush, 224 Tapered Blending Brush and 266 Small Angle Brush
Sonia Kashuk Crease Brush
Hourglass No. 2 Foundation/Blush Brush
Not pictured:
Too Faced Perfect Lips Pencil in Perfect Spice
Tarte LipSurgence Lip Shine in Smitten
MAC Plushglass in Confetti
bareMinerals Marvelous Moxie Lipgloss in Show Off
Note the cherub lamp’s tum in the upper right. 😀
by Karen 3 Comments

My mum-in-law’s collection of seashells.


Hello-hello, and happy Saturday, sweet friend! I’m feeling unusually perky right now, which is weird because morning isn’t usually my best time of day (I’m lucky if I can hold a conversation involving monosyllabic answers before 9), but on rare occasions I wake up with a random burst of energy, WHEEEEE!
I have no idea how I’m going to be able to sit still in the car today… El Hub and I are driving up to Redding to visit his parents, and it’s about a four-hour drive. That’s a lot shorter than the trip across the Pacific ocean when they lived in Hawaii, but it’s still a trek.
We haven’t seen them in a while, so it should be fun. I invited Tabs, but he said he “already has plans with Beyonce and Jay-Z.” 🙂
What are your plans today? Whatever they are, I hope they involve entering this weekend’s Sephora eCard giveaway.
What folks are saying…
“Hi Karen. Oh my goodness! I can’t believe I won! :O Thank you so much! You, Tabs, and your blog are amazing! Thank you for keeping me updated on all things beauty and more importantly, for keeping me entertained! Keep doing your thing! Thank you again.”
-Jacqueline“Thanks so much, Karen. Just in case you were wondering what I got with it, I decided to go with the Clarisonic Mia–I’ve been wanting it for years now, but have never purchased it because of the price. Your eCard helped me finally buy it! I look forward to using it. Thanks again!”
-Jane“Shut the front door! OMG Karen, you have made my day. 🙂 I’m sick in bed with the flu and this has just cheered me up immensely!!!!!!!! BTW, I’m the one that sent you that pic of my pug in a wig a few weeks back LOL! Thanks again, honestly, I’m beyond giddy right now.”
-Angel“Oh my goodness! Thank you so much Karen (and Tabs, of course)! I really appreciate this! I’d been eyeing the Anastasia brow pencil in Strawburn to match my red hair!”
-Chelsea (and Jiji the kitten and Quincy the bunny)“Never before have I been so pleased to check my email right before bed!!! Thank you so, so much! I truly enjoy your blog and check it almost daily! Thanks again! This made my night!”
-Melissa, Edmond, OK“Hi Karen. Thank you so much, I’m so excited, I’ve never won anything before. My name is Hana … I just turned 25 (today is my birthday!) Yay! Thank you.”
-Hana

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Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
by Karen 9 Comments

The new, limited edition Smashbox Master Class 11 Meet The Masters Palette ($59), available now exclusively at Sephora.
by Karen 4 Comments

I didn’t feel like cooking so I hit up Whole Foods for dinner. I ate a corn and onion empanada and a portobello, red pepper and green bean salad. ‘Twas pretty good.
by Karen 52 Comments

Wow, I can’t believe it’s 11 already. I seriously zoned out playing with makeup this afternoon. Somehow I lost track of about three hours, LOL!
Oh, well. Not like it’s the first time that’s happened. 🙂
What are you up to tonight? No plans for me, obviously. My office is in a room upstairs, and El Hub and Tabs are watching TV downstairs, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, judging by the sound of it. I think I’ll go say hi to the boys.
I wish I had somewhere fun or fancy to go because I’d love to take this eye look out for a spin. I used the new Dior Golden Jungle Palette in Golden Browns #002.
Dior probably could have left out the sheer, nude peach gloss… It doesn’t exactly scream, “I’m worthy of a $70 palette!” especially one that could really benefit from the addition of a blush, but whatcha gonna do?
Love the little hatch over the gloss to protect it from any eyeshadow spillover. Good on ya, Dior. That’s a nice touch.
I think the rest of the palette is pretty fab. The eyeshadows are top-notch (and should be for $70). No fallout, easy to blend, and no creasing, yes!


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