What a beautiful night. It’s just after 9 here, but there’s still a little bit of light outside, and the horizon is painted a mix of pink, red, orange and purple. The oak trees outside my window are gently swaying in a soft breeze, and it all makes me feel very…small.
Sunsets like these remind me that there are other things in the world much bigger than us.
Hi, friend. How are you doing tonight? I hope all is well. I don’t exactly know what to say or how to thank you for the comments you’ve left on the blog over the past few days. I’ve cried a bunch of times re-reading them, but they’ve all been good tears.
I still feel a little shaky, but I feel better than I did last week.
Believe it or not, one of the most therapeutic things you can do when you’re not feeling your best is take your cat for a walk.
Wait — here me out! It’s not as weird as it sounds (okay, maybe it is). 
Who is Tabs the Cat? About four years ago I befriended a stray, flea-bitten tabby cat with a bad case of worms. I could see he’d fallen on hard times, but his profound knowledge of high fashion and department store cosmetics led me to believe that he was more than meets the eye. We became fast friends, and now he’s actually my boss (and a successful kitty model).
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. For more of America’s huskiest diva kitty supermodel/actor, check out the archives here.
Sundays with Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 183 
Sundays with Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 185 
Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 191 
Sundays with Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 187 
Hi Karen, I hope you are feeling better!
Take your time, we will all be there when you’ll be back.
Take care! *hugs*
Oh, I love Tabs’ videos! He could give my own husky kitty a lesson or three about walking on a leash.
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Hey Karen. So glad a little Tabs time helped. It’s fur therapy, which is much kinder on the wallet than retail therapy. Seriously, I’m going though something similar right now… to get a new job, to try my hand at a writing career…. which one will be the correct path for me and lead to happiness and fulfillment… etc, etc. So many ifs out there. It helps to know I’m not alone in these thoughts either. Tell Tabs that he needs to let you sleep in tomorrow!
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Tabs is such a supermodel: he walked, he posed, he walked, he posed
I hope you’re feeling better, Karen! Life and lots of writing can get to you sometimes.
This is the first video I’ve watched of Tabs. He is so adorable – I love cats so much! My boss has two cats. I know that no matter how stressed my boss is, he seems to be relaxed with his two kitties. I’m sure Tabs is helping with you with what you’re going through too.
Stay strong! You will be alright.
Hi Karen!
Glad to hear you’re feeling a bit better. We all need a bit of time to recharge when things get overwhelming. I don’t think people realize how much work blogging is.
Walking a cat looks really relaxing, hey? Makes ya really stop and and sniff the flowers!
Good thing you found a harness to fit His Royal Huskiness!
Last weekend my boyfriend was taking one of our cats for a walk, and our kitty caught a bird! =O
aw, well I’m glad you’re doing a bit better Karen. Remember not to rush it either–your loyal readers will ALL be here whenever you’re ready to come back, believe me!
Hanging out with your little fur babies is sometimes the best therapy ever. I know whenever I’m feeling down, taking my dog out for a walk or even just sitting with her and talking to her (I know, I know) makes me feel a hundred times better.
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I’m glad you’re feeling a little better, Karen. Pets are just the best, are they not?
Take care,
xx Renee
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Hahaha! I used to walk (more like drag) my cat too . . .
Glad you’re feeling better!
It’s good to read, that you are feeling slightly better. I believe everyone (man and woman) has times when you want to quit the job/ move to another appartment/ city/ country.
But whatever you do, take Tabs with you
Hey Karen, I’m glad to hear you’re feeling a bit better. Believe it or not, this is probably the most therapeutic clip I’ve watched recently! Now I’m all happy, calm, and peaceful (on a Monday morning too! That’s a record)!
It’s so nice to see you guys enjoying each other’s company, and you talk to him a lot as well! I do that too, and I’ve been told that’s why mine are rather talkative. I secretly enjoy having conversations with them
Take all the time in the world to recover. I really wish you well, and I can understand how sometimes life and the world around us move so much faster than we want them to. xx
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Hey Karen,
Thanks for sharing the video. Made me wish my girls would tolerate a harness. A kitty walk would be good therapy for all of us. I hope you take all the time you need to decompress and recharge. The key is to remember you’re doing something healthy and essential for your life. Sometimes we just have to step back and acknowledge we have reached our limit and need a mental and physical break. Rest well, enjoy some time alone and some with Tabs and your friends and loved ones, and do all the little things that make you happy.
Michelle
Cats somehow always make you feel better with their unconditional love and head bumps. Tabs may seem to run your life but he’d be lost without you and thus, he will keep you grounded when you wobble in life and lose your path. Trust yourself in all that you decide, follow your gut, every path is laid out with twists & turns in life so that we live our lives to the fullest.
Hope you find some Zzzzz’s and are able to refresh your soul.
I hope you had a wonderful weekend:)
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Hang in there, y’hear?
Tabs is sooo husky – I love this vid so very much!
We had a quiet weekend too, and it does wonders for the soul!
Glad to hear that you’re feeling a bit better. I hope things continue down a positve path for you.
What a special treat to see a video of Tabs. It really brightened my Monday morning.
Take care!
Tabs can really move when he wants to! LOL! My tubby girl looks like she couldn’t win a race with a snail but she, too, is like lightening when motivated. Your house and garden are lovely and it’s nice to read that you’re finding some peace.
lovely video and the rustling sound of the leaves and wind makes me happy…..
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OMG, so cute! I have a cat too (called Miu Miu – after my favorite brand!)
Can I ask what application you use for these pics? So professional!
Aw, what a sweet little meow Tabs has! He may be an international kitty model and playboy (you can tell by the way he struts down that path!), but he definitely has a sensitive side. :3
Sending happy thoughts your way!
Awwww, Tabs is adorable! I’m glad you are doing a little bit better. Sometimes it’s good to take some days just to recharge. Just take it one step at a time, one day at a time.
Karen! That wasn’t much of a break, girlfriend! Take your time. I’ve always thought that you work too hard. This blog is just incredible. It’s soooooo much work for one person!
We all all here for you, whatever you do or don’t do. Life is full of twists and turns, isn’t it?
Hi Karen,
I’m glad you are feeling better. If you need more time, please continue to take a break.
We can all get by for a while. If this depression continues, please get some professional help. There is no shame in that, and it can make a world of difference.
I really enjoyed your video. Made me feel like getting outside with my dogs. I like to just sit in my back yard and watch my garden, the dogs, and birds at the feeder. It’s very peaceful.
I hope you keep feeling better. Its been a hard week for me too. It seems uncertianty about the future (job stuff) and lots of time makes my brain go monkey shit crazy. My husband is wonderful, nothing is wrong and I’m taking anti-anxiety meds. I’m hoping this warm body job I’m sure to get will keep me sane until I figure stuff out/ I’m accepted at a job I’ll like. If you start feeling overwhelmed, see a doctor. And take lots of baths. They help.
Glad to hear you’re feeling a bit better, Karen! We all love you. Tabs is looking mighty fierce. Tyra would be proud. *hug*
I do hope you are feeling a bit better. Thake a big break if you need it. Loved the video with Mr Tabs- I think I need himto come give leash / harness lessont to my kitties.
I have a feeling that this week is going to be great for you!
We had a really gorgeous sunset too, but it was on Friday night; the entire sky was pink. It was pretty amazing and it definitely gives you a feeling of peace and awe.
I hear cat-walking is very uplifting. And, no, Tabs did NOT bribe me to type that. Why would you suspect him?
you’re so cute and tabs so cute also
tee hee, your voice is cute too, like it’s out of a cartoon
Tabs is such a calm walker, and it is so peaceful. Glad you got some quality time with him outdoors.
You can get Tabs to take a walk?! We can’t get my orange tabby/monster Ralphy to walk! He plops down when he gets out the door, refusing to even budge. Tabs, you could be a good example for walks!
Dear Karen,
I sincerely hope you feel better. My name is Kayla and I’m a PA student from Massachusetts in love with fashion and cosmetics. I can’t tell you how happy seeing new posts on your blog makes me. Graduate school is so tough and I seldom have time to procrastinate but i so look forward to reading your quirky posts between classes! They cheer me up when I’m stressed. Your beauty of the day pictures and posts about tabs make me smile and your advice has always been spot on! I can only imagine that you are a kind hearted and wonderful person. Please keep your chin up and keep smiling. So thank you for all the banana notes and the great pictures and posts!
Hi Karen,
Nothing like spending time with loved ones plus quiet contemplation to cool our heels.
Hugs and cocoa to you from across the ocean(as I stay in India) to you Karen. The last two years have been great because of you and few other bloggers, you guys are my second family Karen, I check on the site a minimum of 4 times a day(yes, crazy). You are a beautiful, confident and awesome lady Karen. An inspiration to us around the world. XOXOXOXO.
This is really weird, I actually replied to this earlier today form my phone, but my reply isn’t showing.
It just said, I thought it looked more like Tabs walking you than you walking him, lol. x
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That video is soooo damn cute! What a good cat Tabs is – he loves being outside and sniffing the ground apparently. I wish my demon cats would walk outside on a leash. Hell, I’d be happy if they’d poop in the litter box instead of right outside it!
Hi Karen, Glad to see you’re feeling well enough to write a couple of posts! I did notice, especially in the last couple of weeks that your posts sounded, I don’t know what are the right words, angry and very negative?!? So just take your time… and be sure to enjoy Tabs!
By the way, reading your poll for today, I just realised that I big mistake of mine is to not be forgiving and to hold a grudge for too long. Thanks for making me realise this in me too, will try to change that. xx
P.S. Will write in the poll now.
Karen – Just wanted to let you know that I appreciate you SO much. You have brought me so much joy over the years. At around 2:15 eastern I get my Karen and Tabs email every day and I immediately tear into it. Cats and makeup are my two favorite things so I go crazy for Tabs’ various modeling assignments!
As someone a few (cough cough) years old than you, I can tell you that what you are going through is totally natural and like everything good and bad in life, this too shall pass. So embrace the good people and things in your life, and try to hang on during the bad times. One day you will wake up and find that spring in your step again. We all love you!
I’ve been reading your blog for the past few years and think you’ve been doing a fantastic job. Your blog is a pleasant break from the hectic pace of my everyday life, and I appreciate the time and energy you’ve put into it. Spend all the time you need recuperating. You’ve definitely earned it.
I am so in love with your cat!
Glad you’re back and doing better Karen!
So, so glad to know that you’re feeling better. It’s only going to get better, what with this cutie Tabster to keep you company. Thank you for sharing the pawsomeness! Much love and sunshine, girl!
OMG Tabs walks so well for you! My friend has a kitty who goes out on a leash like Tabs, but he’s a huge punk about it – he takes a few steps and then flops over to roll in the grass instead of going for a legit walk.
Oh, and good to have you back! [hugs]
That was such a nice video to watch.I burned my foot earlier and it took my mind of the pain for a few minutes. I wish i could put vincey on a lead.Sometimes he follows me to the shops,but he panics when he see’s another cat or dog.
Karen, thank you for this sweet video of you and the “boss” taking a walk. I love seeing someone who loves and cares for a good friend and companion like Tabs and he looks like the feeling is mutual. As I said before, forget us and make yourself, your husband and Tabs your first priority in all things. All of us who have enjoyed all you’ve done on here wish you peace and contentment in your life.
I was so inspired by the Tabs walking video, I grabbed Amber’s harness and leash and thought I would take her for a walk too. It’s been a really l-o-n-g time since we walked, and she’s . . . uh. . . well, she’s gained a bit of weight, and I couldn’t get the harness buckled under her belly. Almost, but not quite. Looks like a trip to PetSmart is in order.
So cute! I love that you and Tabs can just hang out by a tree and chill together.
I was anxiously wondering whether you’d post a Sundays With Tabs. I’m so glad you’re feeling better, Karen!
Karen,
I am a long time lurker. Thanks for all the smiles you blog has given me. I truly appreciate all that you do! So glad your week is getting better.
Terri