I was up before the chickens this morning, thanks to 18 pounds of tabby cat making biscuits on my butt.
Don’t get me wrong — I usually like my early morning kitty massages (I find them kind of charming), but at 4 in the morning, a good two hours before my alarm was set to go off, today’s wasn’t exactly what I’d call a good time. 🙂
This is probably TMI, but I’m going there because we’re friends: I’ve been feeling decidedly un-glamourous this week, and not even makeup has been cheering me up.
Hard to believe, but it’s true.
I’ve just been so beyond bloated, fussy and tired that I felt like Thelma and Louise there for a minute this morning when I realized that my stretchy clothes weren’t fitting the way they did/should.
I almost lost it. It was intervention time — that, or I was headed off a cliff.
And then it beckoned me, like a beauty beacon of light from above — Urban Decay’s Book of Shadows Vol. IV — and I answered the call.
YES. 🙂
I decided to fire up a couple of the QR code tutorials and have a little fun with the red-carpet worthy Smoke Out look.
The Urban Decay Book of Shadows Vol. IV kit/palette comes with five very sci-fi QR codes, which work a little like bar codes. After installing a free iPhone app to read QR codes, I held the phone’s camera up to the code. The phone scanned it and then opened a link to the video. Each tutorial features Urban Decay’s Executive Creative Director Wende Zomnir and a model, on whom Wende completes the look while describing each step in the process, including which products and brushes to use.
I followed the instructions closely but included a couple of extra products from Urban Decay, Chanel and MAC to round out the look.
Per usual, Lloyd refuses to cooperate
A breakdown of the look…
EYES
- Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion all over the lids and along my lower lash line
- Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Skimp on the brow bone
- Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Midnight Rodeo on the lids
- Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Lost on the outer half of the lids and along my lower lash lines
- Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Cobra on the outer third of the lids, in the crease and along the lower lash lines
- Urban Decay Eyeshadow 24/7 Liquid Eyeliner in Perversion on the upper lash line
- Urban Decay Supercurl Curling Mascara on the upper and lower lashes
- Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Perversion (not from Book of Shadows)
- MAC Eyeshadow in Concrete used to fill in my brows
LIPS
- Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Lip Pencil in Illegal (not from BOS)
- Urban Decay Lip Love Honey-Infused Lip Therapy in Taunt (not from BOS)
Cheeks
- Urban Decay Afterglow Glide-On Cheek Tint in Indecent (not from BOS)
- Urban Decay Baked Bronzer in Gilded
FACE
- Chanel Mat Lumiere Soft Matte Makeup Soft Honey all over the face
- MAC Strobe Cream, also all over the face
- MAC Pro Longwear Concealer in NW25 beneath my eyes
- MAC Studio Careblend Powder in Light Plus, also beneath the eyes
- MAC Studio Careblend Powder in Medium Dark, also all over the face
This time after I got my war paint on and wrangled Lloyd into submission, I did feel about a billion times better.
Score another one for makeup. 🙂
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. How’s your hump day comin’ along? Kinda random, but I’ve had the theme from Mr. Belvedere stuck in my head all day long.
Streaks on the china…
It wasn’t my favorite show from that era (I was more of a Who’s the Boss? gal), but I’d watch it every so often when it was on.
Jenna says
August 31st, 2011 at 3:29 pmpretty!!!!!!!!!
Karen says
August 31st, 2011 at 3:30 pmThanks, Jenna!
What makeup are you wearing today?
Lisa Liu says
August 31st, 2011 at 3:31 pmYou and I have very similar eyeshapes, and I have a really hard time doing eyeshadow. I wish I could magically apparate you here and get you to show me how you do it =/
Karen says
August 31st, 2011 at 3:47 pmHi Lisa,
I feel you. When I first started doing more than two colors my eyes looked a HOT MESS. I still feel like I have a lot to learn, but I think it helps to 1) practice and 1) to take pictures of your looks — even if it’s just with a camera phone. That way you can see what you’re doing right and what you can do to improve.
Oh — and blend until your wrist hurts! That helps too, LOL!
Are there any specific issues that you’re having? Maybe I can suggest some tricks…
Lisa Liu says
August 31st, 2011 at 4:03 pmHaha I think my biggest annoyance right now is that my eyebrows do not extend past my eye. Therefore, its kind of hard for me to tell where my eyeshadow should end. I don’t really have a crazy natural arch in my eyebrow and I think it looks weird on me to fill it in so…
Any tips?
🙂
Karen says
August 31st, 2011 at 9:51 pmHmm, the easiest thing I can think of is to follow the natural line that runs along your bottom lash line. Like, if you were to draw an invisible curved line along the lower lash line starting at the side closest to your nose and then working your way toward the your ear. Does that make sense? If it doesn’t let me know and I will see if I can do some sort of visual aid.
Crystal says
August 31st, 2011 at 3:32 pmYou look beautiful! I’m glad it brightened your day, your posts always brighten mine:)
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Karen says
August 31st, 2011 at 3:47 pmYou’re so sweet, Crystal. Sending you a hug across the internet!
Sonya says
August 31st, 2011 at 3:56 pmVery pretty! Your hair looks great, too 🙂
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Karen says
August 31st, 2011 at 9:52 pmThanks, Sonya!
Jennifer says
August 31st, 2011 at 4:39 pmI LOVE your makeup! It’s beautiful! Good job!
Karen says
August 31st, 2011 at 9:47 pmThanks, Jennifer!
dani@callitbeauty says
August 31st, 2011 at 4:59 pmwow, i LOVE what you did with cobra, it’s absolutely gorgeous!
Karen says
August 31st, 2011 at 9:47 pmHi Dani,
Thank you! 🙂 What makeup did you wear today?
Tavi says
August 31st, 2011 at 5:00 pmYou look so pretty Karen! Love the makeup!
Karen says
September 1st, 2011 at 8:52 amThank you, Tavi! 🙂
Marian says
August 31st, 2011 at 5:37 pmI don’t know why you’re feeling un-glamorous lately. I think you’ve been looking especially pretty. The makeup looks great and I love, love, love your hair!
Karen says
August 31st, 2011 at 9:46 pmHi Marian,
You’re very sweet. I was having a good hair day because Lloyd decided to behave for once.
How was your day? Good, I hope.
peach_ says
August 31st, 2011 at 5:43 pmLOL biscuits on your butt! Sounds cute, but I agree, 4 am loving is a bit early. Love this look, Karen! You should see me reading your posts, often sans makeup, in PJs, etc. I say you are the more glamourous one :).
Karen says
August 31st, 2011 at 9:45 pmHi Peach,
It’s way too early for me, but it’s the end of Tabs’ night shift, so he doesn’t care. Plus, humans solely exist to open cans of gravy and amuse him whenever he feels like it. 🙂
Joyce says
August 31st, 2011 at 8:20 pmMr. Belvedere? I’ve never heard of that show before and I’m an 80s baby, but I’ve watched Who’s the Boss when I was younger. Alyssa Milano grew up on that show. ugh, why do I suddenly feel so old?
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Karen says
August 31st, 2011 at 9:43 pmMaybe it was on after your bedtime? There were certain shows that I couldn’t watch because they were on after 10.
kiwikiwidragon says
September 1st, 2011 at 10:28 amMight have be in syndication. A lot of shows back then didn’t show in all markets, I think it had to do with what your local area purchased or provided. I think if they didn’t pay royalties or something like that, some shows just didn’t get aired.
I was a Family Ties girl, but I did watch Who’s the Boos and Mr. Belvedere if it was on as well. Long before Tivo and expanded cable. All we had was a TV guide and not even the pay one, it was the one that came in the newspaper and if you didn’t get the paper, no tv guide, lol! Dating myself here.
Heidi says
August 31st, 2011 at 8:44 pmGorgeous look! Today I tried out another Nuance shadow duo — Sheer Plum/Putty. Fantastic for a subtle smokey eye. I applied the plum on the lid and the putty (more of a matte taupe) in the crease and really like how it turned out.
Karen says
August 31st, 2011 at 9:42 pmHi Heidi,
I remember swatching that one a few weeks ago — very pretty colors! Did you use any liner?
Heidi says
August 31st, 2011 at 10:27 pmI used a shimmery dark blackish-blue from a Wet n Wild 8-pan palette as the liner.
Karen says
September 1st, 2011 at 8:57 amLove it! I bet the hints of blue in the liner played off the plum well. 🙂
I need to do a plum look soon… all the lovely purples in the fall collections keep calling my name!
Lilit says
August 31st, 2011 at 9:29 pmHope your blah and bloated feeling goes away soon! I was feeling that way all last week, and I know it’s TMI from me but started taking fibre for the first time in my life and feeling somewhat less bloated now. That said, loving the look you’ve created!
Lilit recently posted … Current Skincare Routine – Fuss Free and Simple
Karen says
August 31st, 2011 at 9:40 pmHi Lilit,
Ah, I might have to try that. And thank you re: the look. 🙂 Hope you had a great Wednesday!
AK says
August 31st, 2011 at 10:18 pmKaren, this post is absolutely hysterical. I totally get the 15 lbs of cat making biscuits at inconvenient times. Love the look, and you look fantastic! Seriously, you are rocking the Lloyd Christmas bangs – he should be paying you royalties. Happy hump day! Thanks for a great laugh 🙂
Karen says
September 1st, 2011 at 8:55 amHi AK,
I wish I could direct him a few inches up so he could work out the knots in my lower back and shoulders! That’s where I hold all my tension. 🙂 He’s a cat, though, so you can’t tell him what to do — not ever!
Advah says
September 1st, 2011 at 12:58 amJust chiming to say: LOL at Tabs (it’s adorable when they do that, but oh so annoying when it’s too early..), love your fringe, and reLOL at Lloyds hahah!
Right, back to work. Hope it’s been a good week!
Karen says
September 1st, 2011 at 8:52 amTabs has been VERY rowdy in the wee hours lately. I think he’s going through some kind of weird witching hour playtime phase thing!
How’s your week going? Good, I hope!
Advah says
September 1st, 2011 at 1:42 pmI’ve got Work Rage this week, but on Sunday I’m off to spend a week in Nice – exciting! This summer work has been exhausting and I’m desperate for a break. 🙂
Hope you’re having a good week too?
Advah says
September 1st, 2011 at 12:59 amOops, “Lloyd”
Nina says
September 1st, 2011 at 5:49 amawww Karen — hope you feel better soon! i know exactly how you feel – that was me last week!
the look is gorgeous, i love it!
Karen says
September 1st, 2011 at 8:51 amHi Nina,
Thanks, lady! I finally got some good sleep last night, so I’m feeling much better.
What makeup are you rocking today?
Nina says
September 1st, 2011 at 8:55 amim wearing knight on my lids and rock and republic kinky blush on the cheeks today.
pretty simple for what im hoping will be a rainy day. 🙂
Ditte K. says
September 1st, 2011 at 6:00 amI do love the hairdo (and ofc the make-up look, but that is obv) 🙂
Karen says
September 1st, 2011 at 8:49 amThanks, Ditte. It’s taken a while to adjust to the bangs… they’re just so unruly!
Kim says
September 1st, 2011 at 6:23 amThat’s a very sassy eye look and Lloyd is definitely learning who’s in charge. He’s looking flawless in your pics! 🙂
I’m sorry about the bloat; I totally hate those days (when even the sweat pants feel uncomfortable)!
Oh, my. Mr. Belvedere and Who’s the Boss. I haven’t thought of either in a long time. One of my best gals had Charles in Charge on at her house 24/7. It was like an alternate universe where you just walked in her mother’s front door and C in C was ALWAYS on. We couldn’t figure out how it was possible. And we still give her a hard time about it. 🙂
Karen says
September 1st, 2011 at 8:48 amHi Kim,
AH, I remember that show. I always thought it was kind of weird how they switched families halfway through the show! I remember liking it though.
You know, I miss the era of the family sit-com. I know this is going to make me sound very “Get off my lawn, you lousy kids!”, but I feel like we grew up in a time where TV was much more innocent. We had Growing Pains and Silver Spoons; now there’s Bridalplasty and Flavor of Love.
Kim says
September 1st, 2011 at 11:09 amOh, no doubt. I think of it often and was just reminiscing about “after school specials”. I don’t know if I ever watched a full one, but remember they were very wholesome with a positive message for kids. That’s when MTV played music videos, though. 🙂 Some of the programming for kids today is mind-numbingly awful, but my boys would watch all day if they were allowed. Whenever they ask if they can watch TV, I usually tell them they’ll have to put it on the Nuclear Physics Channel. If only there were such a thing. I rely on Discovery Science instead. HAHA!
Taylor says
September 1st, 2011 at 8:05 am“Making biscuits on my butt” ….Thank you so much for that I laughed so hard. Definitely made my day a little better. Hope yours is better today.
Karen says
September 1st, 2011 at 8:39 amHi Taylor,
Glad to give you a giggle! Do you have any kitties/pups? As you can see I’m a total crazy cat lady!
Vijaya says
September 1st, 2011 at 5:15 pmAbsolutely beautiful look!
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shiny says
September 1st, 2011 at 8:14 pmdude – my first reaction was ‘OM-Freaking-G!’ That looks AMAZING! Even better than your ‘fondle the asparagus (hahahahahahahhahaha) look!
Bloating, eh? try minced fresh ginger and cumin in *heavily* diluted yogurt (watery consistency is your aim). You’ll burp like crazy, but you’ll feel light and perhaps even refreshed.
veronica panduro says
September 2nd, 2011 at 9:41 amI think this is too much, it’s too busy.
Shauna says
September 2nd, 2011 at 1:00 pmNot really feeling this pallette. . .
Shauna says
September 2nd, 2011 at 1:05 pm.