Good morning, young lady. Rise and shine. It’s going to be a beautiful day. 🙂
So what did you end up doing last night? Something fun, I hope. After cleaning the entire house from top to bottom, I rewarded myself with a Chipotle veggie burrito and a trip to the mall. At the MAC store I resupplied a few essentials that were running low — the Eyeshadows in Restrospeck (love it with Soba and Sable) and Concrete (my go-to brow filler), and Lipglass in Spite (been wearing it since the ’90s).
Then, back at the home, I took the Tabinator for a walk around the neighborhood and watched some weird French movie called Caché on TV. Juliette Binoche was in it, so I figured how bad can it be? In it, a family is being stalked by someone who keeps his/her identity hidden. The stalker videos the family going about their daily lives, even from inside their own home, and then sends copies of the tapes to them, as if to say, “Neener neener, I see you! And I’m totally crazy.”
I liked it, but I couldn’t relate to the main characters, especially the main husband dude. He’s weirdly passive about the whole thing for the longest time, like doopdadoo, we’re being stalked. What’s for dinner, hun?
Anywho, how are you doing? Was there a highlight of the week for you? Something good at work or school? Or maybe a nice break from the daily grind? How about with your hair or makeup? Did you try anything new? I’ve been playing a little more with some bolder eye looks lately, and that’s been a lot of fun.
Here’s one last look at a few of the things we dished about on the blog. Hope you have a great morning, and I’ll be back soon. Just gotta refill my coffee and finish watching The Millionaire Matchmaker with Tabs (he keeps rolling his eyes).
The Weekly Roundup: Posts You Might Have Missed
FOR THE PRICE, THESE $3.49 ESSENCE GEL EYELINERS
HAVE MAC FLUIDLINE WHIPPED
Essence continues to rock me like a hurricane (and take the drugstore makeup world by storm). What fab, little steals these pigmented, long-wearing Gel Eyeliners are! They come in three shades — matte black Midnight in Paris, shimmery taupe London Baby and shimmery purple Berlin Rocks — and cost a mere $3.49 each.
The fluffy texture of this shoestring wedding of whipped mousse and $15 MAC Fluidline doesn’t hold these back at all. In fact, with the Sonia Kashuk bent brush, I find them surprisingly easy to apply, and since they’re also quick drying — like, in less than a minute — I finish lining with them in less time than it takes to say, “Ben McKenzie is hot!”
Well, ya know. 🙂 Read more…
TIGI CATWALK SESSION SERIES SALT SPRAY
DELIVERS BEACHY WAVES FROM A BOTTLE
I must have been born a water baby because I could spend all day at the beach. I’m serious, get me in the ocean, and I’m a happy girl.
Rather, get me in a warm ocean, and I’m a happy girl.
I vividly remember the last time I was in the water at a warm beach because it was also the day I saw some of the best beachy waves I’ve ever seen. It was the day after Thanksgiving last November, and we were visiting El Hub’s parents in Hawaii. We spent quite a chunk of that trip chasing sea turtles, so to speak, flapping in our flippers and snorkels.
We’d just climbed out of the water to take a short break, which meant people watching and nomming on local snacks (coconut balls and Pass-o-Guava juice, anyone?). I was watching a group of kids build a giant sand castle on the shore, and one of the girls involved in its construction had a perfectly tousled, messy mop of pure, casual awesomeness on her head. She must’ve only been about seven or eight, but I remember thinking, “Hot damn! I wish my hair looked like that!” Read more…
MAC COLOURIZATIONS PRO PALETTE EYE SHADOW X 2
YOU CAN’T EASILY POP IN AND OUT OF THIS DOUBLE FEATURE
The very first time I walked up to a MAC eyeshadow display case, my eyes rolled back in my head. Not because of eyeshadow ecstasy, mind you; this was years ago, and at the time I didn’t know Soft Brown from chocolate delight. No, looking down at those rows of sleek, little pots, as beads of perspiration formed on my brow, I was utterly and completely overwhelmed.
What I could have used back then was something like the new MAC Pro Palette Eye Shadows X 2 ($25 each US; $30 in Canada). Designed to take the guesswork out of choosing which eyeshadows to pair by teaming two coordinating colors together in a cute lil’ palette (and eliminating what was a major source of makeup stress for me way back when), these eight duos dance onto MAC counters with the new Colourizations Collection August 4 in North America, and internationally, some time next month. Read more…
ESSENCE MULTI-COLOUR BLUSH
IS WEARING STRIPES TO THE PARTY BUT CAN’T STAY FOR LONG
If something has stripes, I’m usually totally into it, but when it comes to these $2.49 Essence Multi-Colour Blushes, well, let’s just say that their cute stripes and great price are just about the best things they have going for ‘em.
I give the two available shades, pale pink Fashionista and pale peach How Cute Is That, major points for looking cute on a budget, but their knees buckle beside the performance of rock stars from the Essence line, like the fantastic Gel Eyeliners.
I wore light pink Fashionista to the beach the other day, and even though I like the natural-looking cheek flush and subtle sheen it lends, the look just doesn’t last. The effect had all but vanished in less than three hours. Read more…
9 THINGS
SIMPLE PLEASURES (SUMMER AND OTHERWISE)
You know what they say, right? “It’s the simple things.” The simple pleasures, like sleeping in, an ice-cold Coca Cola on a hot day, a new tube of lipstick, a good hair day, a tender kiss, a comforting smile, a good hug, a stranger holding open the door, a few words of encouragement.
What are some of the simple pleasures you’ve been enjoying lately? Here are some of mine, in no particular order (I can’t wait to hear yours).
1. Lounging by the pool. My favorite part of last weekend wasn’t the plate of killer fries I had with that delicious veggie burger at the mall (although it was delicious). Nope, last weekend nirvana took the shape of my bum parked in a lounge chair by the neighborhood pool.
And I didn’t do any web surfing, blogging, tweeting or texting at all while I was there. Instead, I resisted the urge to plug in and just tried to focus on my thoughts for a while. Read more…
TARTE FOR TRUE BLOOD
EYE SEE VAMPS EVERYWHERE GOING CRAZY FOR THIS PALETTE
Well polish my coffin and pour me another cup of that True Blood, Team Tarte, because I’d like to raise my glass! Y’all obviously sunk your teeth into the new limited edition True Blood Palette ($52). I’d stake my life on that.
But seriously, the effort Tarte put into developing this palette shows in the clever little details, like the words “Open After Dark” scrawled across the cubby that conceals the mini primer, mascara and eyeliner, and the lace threading through the grommets on the cover (er, those better not be silver!).
Saucy!
A little drawer for a set of fake fangs would’ve been the icing on the cake. After all, undead wannabes wear makeup, too, but I guess you can’t appease all of the fangbangers all of the time… But you can appease some of them some of the time, especially when you arrange the shadows in a palette in a logical way. Read more…
TARTE FOR TRUE BLOOD LIPSURGENCE NATURAL LIP TINT
DELIVERS RED LIPS WITHOUT THE BITE
Vampires aren’t known for their flexibility (their restricted diet, won’t work daytime hours, religious intolerance, etc.), but the new Tarte for True Blood LipSurgence Natural Lip Tint ($24) is. It’s one of the most flexible reds I’ve come across in a really long time.
The crayon/pencil tip makes this medium-coverage, iridescent red a cinch to apply. The color’s easily buildable, too, making it workable in a variety of occasions and looks from demure to dramatic.
I haven’t figured out why Tarte chose to give it a faint minty flavor and scent (um, how does mint relate to vampires?), but I like the way they’re executed; I think both of them are refreshing (again, vampires?) like gum.
Now that I think about it, I can’t think of a more appropriate, better taste and scent… Garlic is certainly out. Read more…
MAC COLOURIZATIONS COLLECTION
THIS DRAMATIC DOUBLE FEATURE STARS A TEAL AND BROWN EYE
Okay, so you how when you’re in the mood to do a dramatic eyeshadow look, and you start with just a few colors, but the next thing you know you’ve got, like, 10 different shades all up on your lids?
Welcome to my world, chica.
I don’t know what it is, but when I see all of those lonely pans looking up at me hopefully, I can’t help myself. A little bit of this one here, a tiny bit of that one there. OOH! A dash of this one to accentuate everything else. 🙂
Sometimes I wonder if I have some kind of medical makeup condition that compels me to use four different browns in the crease. Read more…
DOLCE & GABBANA ITALIAN SUMMERTIME LIPSTICK
SWATCHES AND WORKING WITH DEMANDING CATS
Seriously, if I don’t start getting some recognition from my boss, I just might go apesh*t. Don’t get me wrong, I love working for Tabs. Being his executive assistant/gravy chef has been an amazing experience, but he refuses to acknowledge any boundaries between my work and personal life.
Last night I literally had one foot out the door when he stopped me.
“Meow!” he said, knowing full well that El Hub and I had reservations for dinner.
“But it’s our anniversary,” I replied. I pleaded with him, but he just stared back at me, expressionless, as if to say, “And?” He told me dinner would have to wait until I finished swatching these new lip products from the Dolce & Gabbana Italian Summertime Collection, available now at Saks stores and also online.
Apparently, he got an e-vite from Domenico and Stefano to spend the weekend at their villa on Lake Como in Italy, and he wanted the swatches to help him decide which lip colors he should wear for the trip. Read more…
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Vijaya says
Oooh! I missed that Simple Pleasures post, I think… *going to look*
Nina says
oh wow – another weekend over! will console myself rereading some posts!
Yogirl says
I spend the whole weekend with my family and my new-born niece (3 weeks old and absolutely adorable)! It is so much fun and entertaining just watching her sleep.
Thanks for a week of inspiration on beauty and life in general. I got the Essence gel liner yesterday and will try them tomorrow.
Melissa says
Girl that Teal/Brown look was the best makeup look I’ve seen in a while. I know you said you spent a lot of time on it but, it really is beautiful. Hope you had a wonderful anniversary and a wonderful week!
Sarahc says
Yay! The simple pleasures one and the one on your anniversary were my favorites. Of course I loved the makeup reviews too. What am I saying? I love them all!!! 🙂
Are you watching True Blood tonight?
Nikki says
Loving this post – am going to catch up on everything I missed when my baby has her nap! 🙂
x
Lily says
What is that red lippie you wear in the first pic? Its AWESOME! <3