Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Blogmas 11, 2012 ❄ Worst Fish Noodle Soup, Gossip Girl and Cars Land

As you're reading this post, I'd probably already on my way to Los Angeles. Excuse my very late blogmas post. My friend just came from Indiana to visit. She's going back to Indonesia for good, so I am savoring all the time I have left with her here. Last night after picking her up at the airport, we went to this little place called Kopitiam. I purchased $5 for $10 groupon. I ordered Milo Ice and fish noodle soup. It was not a really pleasant experience. The soup tasted more like soap water even though the fish was quite tasty. We had to wait for about 30 minutes, quite a long time considering it was a small shop and not too many people were there. Kopitiam offers Singaporean/Malaysian cuisine. It's more like a cafe with small variety of dishes and some drinks and desserts. We got kaya toast on the house for waiting too long. The best thing we had there. It was really disappointing, and I wouldn't go back there considering.

I finally got a chance to watch Gossip Girls' very last episode. It is so sad thinking that there's no more Gossip Girl to look forward to even though it's been quite a while since I was eager to watch new episode of the show. The show has finally come to an end, and I have to say the ending was not bad at all. I won't spoil anything for those who haven't and want to watch Gossip Girl, but let's just say everyone's getting a long fine at the end. I do think there's a little too much impossibility like Georgina and Jack. Oops. Anyway....

My boyfriend and I had been wanting to check out the new Cars Land at Disney California Adventure in Anaheim. Having my friend here was the perfect time for all of us to spend time and have fun at the supposedly "happiest place on earth". I don't know if that's true, but I do feel happy every time I go to Disneyland. I will post more about my trip to Disneyland. Stay tune!

Monday, December 17, 2012

Blogmas 10, 2012 ❄ Weekend Getaway: Monterey

Hi everyone. I have been a week behind on my blogmas, and I apologize for that. It is harder that I thought it would be to write a blog post every single day. I had a weekend getaway with some of my friends. We stayed at a hotel in Monterey. My boyfriend's roommate had a Christmas party with his office and he invited us along with him to stay at the hotel. We didn't go to the Christmas party though, but it sure sounded like fun with the ravel and white elephant. White elephant is gift exchange you do with people and people want to can "steal" other people gifts. 

I didn't take many pictures because I forgot to bring my camera and the weather was really bad. It was cloudy all day Saturday and raining and cold, too. The very next day when we were leaving, the sun decided to show its face on our backs. Talk about irony. 

We got to see the sea as it was Monterey after all. It was windy and cold and cloudy. Not a good time to laying on the beach. =(

This was my lunch at a seafood restaurant near the hotel. I forgot what the place was called. This is Crab Louie salad. It was bland and tasted meh. 

I redeemed my awful lunch with yummy dessert from Ghirardelli which was also waling distance from our hotel. Everything was in walking distance as it was a small town. This is Very Berry sundae. It has. I think, vanilla ice cream with cheesecake and berry sauce with whipped cream and chocolate balls and wafer as the topping. It was good although not as good as I remembered. I have only tried it at Ghirardelli Square in San Francisco. I guess the taste was somewhat compromised. 

I found this weird sodas at a gift shop. My friend wanted to buy one just for the sake of trying it but decided not to after looking at the price. Yeah, we're cheap that way. =P

For dinner, we went to this chinese restaurant with lanterns and red things all around as decorations. My own personal statistics and experience, chinese restaurants with "too festive" decorations or what I like to call "trying-too-hard" decore usually don't have great food. And I was right. The taste was just okay. The dishes weren't flavorful as I usually prefer. I guess the taste here was also compromised for western style. I don't know. I got this bad fortune cookie with bad fortune inside. It just ridiculous. I don't believe in this kind of thing, but I do like to crush the fortune cookie to take what's inside. By far, this is the most ridiculous "fortune" I have ever got. 

Thank you for hanging out with me. 
8 more days 'till Christmas! 


Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Blogmas 9, 2012 ❄ Quick Update

Hi everyone. I haven't fulfilled my goal to blog every single day. Sorry for that. I'm running busy today.  It was my last day volunteering. I've been volunteering for SHFB's finance department for more than 2 months now. Time really flies, doesn't it? Then I went to the mall looking for a gift for my boyfriend but didn't get anything. Instead, I got myself a printed cardigan from LOFT which I believe you will soon see on Instagram. =P

I went to Costco for grocery shopping for this Friday's Christmas celebration at my youth fellowship. I'm going to cook spaghetti meatball for 65 people! It was supposed to be my friend's job, but I don't know why I ended up offering to cook the sauce.

Veronica also messaged me today asking if I want to shop online on loft.com because they are having really great sale and discount. Free shipping is eligible only for $125 purchase or more. So she was willingly gather friend so we all could get the free shipping since popular items at stores are always out of stock. It was really crazy how a 60-dollar-blouse can only be $18. How I'm thankful for holiday sale!

Sorry for the short update. I'm running late for dinner at St. John Burge tonight. Write you tomorrow!







Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Blogmas 8, 2012 ❄ My Story: How I Got Into Makeup

I have always been interested in makeup for as long as I remember. When I was about 11, my mom got me in a beauty workshop with Belia, an Indonesian youth makeup brand. I don't know whether the brand still exists or not, but it was the first time I learned how to apply makeup properly. A couple of years later, there's another beauty workshop held by Etude, a Korean beauty brand at the mall near my house. My sister and I participated in the workshop. I learned about applying foundation, powder, eyeliner, etc. I remember it was the first time I used a pencil eyeliner on my waterline and I could see a significant difference on my overall look. It made my small eyes look more defined and somewhat bigger. I tried it the next day to school and one of my friends came up to me and asked, "What happened to your eyes?" I never again wore eyeliner. At that time, I thought makeup was only for parties and other formal events. I also thought, as taught at the workshops, applying makeup consisted on fixed number of steps.

I also remember thinking I could never apply eyeshadows because it was just too hard making it even and pretty and all. A little over a year ago, I was hooked watching Blair Fowler or Juicystar07 on youtube along with her sister, Elle Fowler of AllThatGlitters21. I discovered them through my marketing professor who introduced the concept of 'haul' to me. I started watching their Forever21 hauls, makeup hauls and makeup tutorial. I really believed they were the only ones on youtube doing this kind of stuff if not the best. I then came across Bethany Mota or Macbarbie07 whom I thought was just copying Juicystar07 because of the name and the video style. I was really naive back then. I didn't watch youtube often. A lot has changed since then.

These two products was the first makeup products I purchased on my own. I bought the mascara because Bethany said that she loved it, and I bought the elf beauty clutch because I thought it was such a good deal for only $10. Little did I know that both products just didn't work for me.




Blair's video was the first ever makeup tutorial I have ever tried.
"Strolling by the Seaside"



And here's the result

It doesn't look good, I know.
It was the first time ever I apply eyeshadow on my lids on my own! I have come a long way since.

I then discovered Beauty Broadcast, a beauty channel and blog by Emily Eddington or emilynoel83. She really changed my life forever. I might sound a little bit exaggerating, but she really did. I literally spent hours watching her makeup tutorials back to back and learned how to apply my makeup, especially eyeshadows. I learned how to do smokey eyes from her. I bought things she said she loved and I loved them and still do! I find Emily is really passionate about what she does on BeautyBroadcast. Her reviews on products she's tried are really thorough and right to the point. She will say what products she loves or hates and why unlike many other beauty gurus who just say they love something without giving more details. Emily comes across really sincere and dear to my heart, and I thank you for all of her hard work making great videos for her subscribers.

After that, I just continue learning from my youtube experience. Here's a list of my favorite beauty gurus on youtube:

MakeupByTiffanyD by Tiffany
Pixiwoo by Samantha and Nicola Chapman
Pixi2woo by Tanya Burr
MissGlamorazzi by Ingrid

I don't use makeup to hide my imperfection nor do I think makeup should be used for it. I found makeup was a new hobby and now I am passionate about all things beauty, and I would love to share this passion with people just like those beauty gurus do. I am learning as I'm watching the beauty videos. I have friends come up to me and ask me makeup related questions. I first felt a little embarrassed knowing people I know actually read my blog, but then when I know I get to help them and answer their questions, I feel really glad and not at all embarrassed. I wish I can share my knowledge and passion with more people.
So thank you for reading. Write you on the next blogmas! =)

Monday, December 10, 2012

Blogmas 7, 2012 ❄ Target Finds

I'm sorry for the two-day delay. I was so busy that I forgot to publish my post. Last Friday I spent almost all day at Target. Target is having a coupon for $10 giftcard when you spend $50 so I thought it was a good time to stock up on essential things like toilet paper. But surprise surprise, when I go to Target, I never really buy things that I have planned to buy. I always end up buying more stuff. As I mentioned before, Target is on top of my list of favorite stores. I always find great things at Target. And here are some.

Mr. & Mrs. Owl.
They are so adorable. I almost got them just because the cuteness factor but I realized cuteness can't justify my shopping, so self-control wins. I currently don't have a Christmas tree, and I plan to get on in the future. I am one who is festive when it comes to Christmas. 

Print Pants
I finally got these. I went to two different Target yesterday because I forgot my coupons. I had to go back home, print the coupons, go to another Target that is closer to my next destination. Sadly, the other Target didn't have the size of the pants I wanted so I held back. I went to the first Target again later that night and found the pants were still hanging on the rack by itself. It was the only one, my size and on sale. You know what they say. If it's on sale and it's your size, it's meant to be. Haha. But no, I didn't buy the pants because of that, I bought them because I've been thinking about them for a week, and I know that I really like them.


Cloud-cut Blazer
dress-Urban Outfitters, T-Shirt-Loft
I still don't know why this type of cut, the wavy, cloud-like cut is called scallop-cut. Anyway, I saw this on MakeupbyTiffanyD's blog and I thought that it was really cute on. When I was browsing through the sale racks on the clothing section, I found this baby hanging. It was 50% off and was the only one and was my size. Do you see the pattern here? I like how it looks. It can dress up your entire outfit and it works great for dress too.

Clear Plastic Drawers

I've been looking for this type of organizers for quite a while, and I was thrilled to finally find these at Target. These are pretty great dupes for clear acrylic containers that are really pricey. I just love how they see-through so I can locate my stuff very easily. I will look even better once I have a real vanity. =P

Friday, December 07, 2012

Blogmas 6, 2012 ❄ LOTD: Christmas Party

Hi everyone. Today's blogmas is about parties that are coming during the holiday. I personally prefer dressing up when it comes to parties and always have been. This is one of the looks that I create for the holidays. The pictures might not give the eyeshadows justice since I use my iPhone instead of my dSLR that I left at my boyfriend's house. So please bear with me. 



                           
I use Sigma Paris Palette because it has gorgeous shades that match my dress. If you want to read more about the palette, I have a full blog post about it here. I also find that my skin is not acting up currently so I only use concealer instead of a full-on foundation to cover up my blemishes. 


Face
❄ The Body Shop Stick Concealer - 03 (featured here)
❄ NYX Stay Matte but not flat powder
❄ Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer
❄ Milani Baked Blush - Coralina
❄ Hello Kitty Shimmering highlighter

Eyes
❄ Maybelline ColorTattoo - Barely Beige
❄ Sigma Paris Palette - Versailles on inner corner
❄ Sigma Paris Palette - Orsay & Louvre on lid
❄ Sigma Paris Palette - Triomphe on outer corner for the smokey effect
❄ Urban Decay Naked Palette - Buck on crease
❄ Katty Perry False Eyelashes - Sweety Pie

Lips
❄ Jordana Lip Liner - Tawny
❄ Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick - Rose Blush (gorgeous color!)

And my dress is from Urban Outfitters. I wore it with two different styles, but I like the black blazer the most. It's more chic and sophisticatied. 


Thank you for reading!

Thursday, December 06, 2012

Blogmas 5, 2012 ❄ My Favorite Stores to Shop

Holiday is the hardest time of the year for me to avoid shopping. The jolly mood, all the Christmas hype, and crazy markdowns around me really succeed in attracting me to at least window shop. Regardless, I find myself a new-found self-control by revealing my checking account. Lol. Anyway, here are some of my favorite places to shop.


Surprise, Surprise. Yes, I love Target. Who doesn't? I can ge everything from chips to shoes, from blanket to Wii u! Target has just the most amazing range of stuff, and they manage to have the store designed  neatly and enjoyable for customers to walk in. Target is by far my most favorite place to shop. If you never check out the clothes section, you should. Target really has amazing finds, and the best thing about it is they are on sale every couple of months. I got my favorite skirt and jacket for less than $15 after 70% off. I heart Target. Also, if you bring your own bag for your purchase, you get a 5c discount for each bag. Way to promote go green!
Forever21, Loft, Loft, Target

What can I say? Forever 21 still and alway gets me. I do however prefer to shop online rather than at the store because I find Forever21 doesn't have good item arrangement. Things just scatter around randomly instead of being arranged neatly and properly. It is just hard to find colors or sizes for a single clothing item. It's just crazy. The other thing that really bugs me is that the rack is always awfully full and packed making it hard for me to browse around the clothes and take the ones I like. Regardless, I still like Forever21 for its fashion sense and low price. 


This is my new-found favorite store thanks to Veronica. She is petite and tells me that it is hard to find clothes (and shoes for that matter) that fit. She's been kinda obsessed with  Wendy's Lookbook and ExtraPetite because both bloggers have similar body type with her. Extra Petite especially gives insights for petite fashion and petite-friendly stores. LOFT is one of them. I find myself shopping in petite section, and it fits me slightly better than the regular size. Wow. I guess my body type is somewhere in between, but I like fitness a little bit more when it comes to tailored outfits like LOFT offers. LOFT is also one of many stores that always have items for sale.  The sale is always around  an additional 40% off for its already reduced item, and occasionally 40-50% for its full-priced. I have never buy full-priced item from the store. The key is to be patient and willing to go from store to store to find your size.


Rose Gold Bracelet from BaubleBar
I was a little bit obsessed with jewelry a couple of years back, and I was really thrilled when I find this website. BaubleBar offers wide range of jewelry design from classic to customized. Another great thing about it is its free shipping. Yay! You also get point for every dollar you spend that can be used for discount toward your next purchase. I have made four purchases from the website, and I like them all. 






Ulta vs. Sephora
I've known about Sephora just a little bit longer than I have about Ulta. Both provide me with the same level of excitement when I walk in to the stores, but Sephora does give a little more edge in my shopping experience. I always bump into at least 2 or 3 people with their heavy makeup who offer to help me with anything while at Ulta, the people will occasionally ask how I'm doing when they walk right pass me.  Sephora offers a wider range of high-end brand while Ulta provides BOGO 50% regularly for drugstore items. I like it because it can be my one stop shop for high-end as well as drugstore beauty stuff. The other thing that I like most about Ulta is its reward program that offers certain dollar value discount after you reach certain point. It really wins me over Sephora who only offers deluxe samples of beauty items that often times seem useless and unattractive to me. All in all, I like both stores because they complement each other. Sephora has my favorite high-end brands like Laura Mercier, Makeup Forever that Ulta doesn't, but Ulta has drugstore makeup which is really convenient. 



I'll let you know when I discover another favorite. Until then, thank you for reading!

Don't forget to subscribe =)

Wednesday, December 05, 2012

Blogmas 4, 2012 ❄ A New Chapter: Job, Relationship, Anniversary

Today I broke the news to my supervisor at my volunteering workplace that I got a job, and she was thrilled for me. She hugged me with joy. She also told me she was jealous of me that I got to move on with my life and finally get a real job. It really is something to be excited about. 
For the last five months, I had used to plan for the short term because I had always thought that I might go back to my hometown soon. Every day had been a battle of tears and fear. Once I got the offer letter, I couldn't help but jumping in joy. 

Three days before I got the news, I was sitting on my bed pondering on what my life would be. My insomnia was kicking in, and I prayed to God. That night, I got a revelation that I was here to stay. I had always been torn between staying and going back. I knew that I wanted to stay, but I just felt that I wasn't strong enough to bear the fight and struggle in finding a job even though I was already in the battle. I have always been a realist and am used to prepare for the worst-case scenario. That night, I found it in me that as much as I wanted to go home, I wanted to stay here more. Than two days later, just the day before I learned about the offer, I found myself thinking how I would allocate my first salary once I got the job. Suddenly, I felt the urge and excitement to start working as soon as possible I couldn't wait to start my career. At that point I realized that my gut was telling me something. It was telling me that I got the job. Despite all the feelings, I kept silent because I didn't want to keep my hopes up. The next day, when I got the news, I was literally jumping up and down while the HR manager was delivering the news on the phone. 

I finally feel that I am moving forward. I will start in January so I still have about a month or so to prepare and enjoy the holiday with peace of mind.  I thank God for His early Christmas present. And I just can't thank my boyfriend enough for his support. Many people asked me what would happen if I have to go back. What would happen to my boyfriend? He'd be alone, but he'd never be lonely. I guess   we are at the point of relationship where I can see getting stronger and stronger. Some people even suggest us to get married so that I can stay. I'm sorry, but it's just the dumbest idea ever. I would never get married for a visa. You should get married for the right reasons, and getting to stay in the country is not one of them. That's just my opinion. 

Anyway, my anniversary was finally here. We were supposed to go to this French restaurant in San Francisco but he was feeling a little under the weather. So we stayed in instead. When he picked me up, he said that he wanted to go to Target first before dinner to pick up something. I asked him what it was, and he said some electronic stuff. Then as we drove to the area, I reminded him to take the left lane as Target was on our left hand-side. I was focusing on my phone when I realized that he had taken the wrong turn. Or had he? I remember telling him to make a u-turn when he finally said that he wanted to buy me a present at Ulta, which was in the complex just across Target. He was really sneaky. I didn't see that coming.  He bought me Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau so fresh. It has been my favorite scent for quite a while, and it was on my wish list too! Thank you for the little surprise, Dear!

La Jolla Beach, San Diego, CA
Rocking the journey together  for 2 years

Thank you for reading. Until the next blogmas!

Tuesday, December 04, 2012

Blogmas 3, 2012 ❄ My Little MAC Collection

I am quite new to the whole MAC-a-rama. I've heard about MAC for a long time, but I'd always had this perception that MAC cosmetics are expensive and rough on skin. I guess it partly because many professional makeup artists use MAC and also my sister told me that MAC could break out my skin.


Nevertheless, I bought my very first MAC product, Purring Tendertone, around March 2012. It is a lip balm with SPF 12 which sometimes acts as a gloss too because its shiny finish. It does work wonders on chapped lips. 


My second product I bought was based on Macbarbie07 aka Bethany Mota's recommendation which is MAC Mineralize Charged Water. It is a "skin hydrating mist" that you can also use to set your makeup. I like how MAC design is not commonly found on other brands. The pump bottle is different and looks more sophisticated than other traditional pump bottles. The mist smells refreshing, but unfortunately I don't know if it really does set my makeup.

Love the bullet-like design =)





In August, I bought MAC lipstick after watching so many swatches on youtube. It is safe to say that I am being extra careful in selecting MAC products I bought, and I don't know why. Maybe because I feel MAC is such a splurge for me even though the pricing is in fact lower than many of other makeup brands. After I watched Pixi2woo aka Tanya Burr's Top Ten MAC lipsticks, I finally bought Jubilee. I don't regret buying the lipstick because it doesn't feather on the lips and it has moistures which is always a plus on a lip product. 



Say hello to Mr. Tiger!
Next ones I bought are the eye products, which I am most excited about. The eyeshadows are pretty expensive, and I prefer to wait until I have at least four colors that I really like before I purchase. I finally did and named the quad "Miss Kristani's Smokey Brown Eyes". The quad doesn't come in engraving at all, but MAC does ask what you want to name it when you buy online. In the quad I have Arena, Twinks, Embark and Satin Taupe which is the most popular among the four. I bought two of the colors after I watched Pixiwoo's Brown Smokey Makeup for Asian or Hooded Eyes.  Pixiwoo sisters are by far the best makeup artists I have watched in terms of makeup techniques and variations. You should check out their channel. I must admit I don't really like all the shadows. I don't like Embark because the color just doesn't transfer well enough and I don't like Twinks because it turns out that I have a really similar color. I also bought paint pot in Quite Natural which I find really creamy and nice pigmentation.

I personalized my own MAC by putting cute pictures on the palette.
The clear cover really sophisticates the whole design. 

My latest purchase is very popular among MAC users. It is the Mineralize Skin Finish Natural. My shade is medium plus. I have heard many people rave about this product especially MakeupbyTiffanyD. I went to MAC asking for one of the ladies in the store to help find my shade. The girl looked at me and instantly told me that my shade is medium plus. While she was searching for my sample shade, there was a woman asking to pay her purchase, the the girl asked me if it was alright to help the woman first and of course I said yes. She then returned to me with my shade and opened the product and started buffing the powder on my cheek. While doing that, she kept chatting with her friends beside her who was restocking products in the drawers. It was like I was just a model and she was the makeup artist. I did not like that. She told me that it has satin finish that gives skin healthy glow. I don't buy it, but I bought it anyway. Lol. 


There's my little MAC collection. So tell me, what MAC products do you love?

❤❤❤

Monday, December 03, 2012

Blogmas 2, 2012 ❄ I Love Wii U + Games Rave - Nintendoland and Super Mario Bros

Two of my friends just moved in to a condo, and I have been spending a lot of  time. The place becomes our own cozy little nest every weekend. A friend lent her wii console to put into the place so we could all play it together. The only game we played for a while was Wii Tennis. We became addicted for quite some time, and it became a little competition between us. 
I even accidentally got hit by the wii remote because a friend forgot to tighten the strap on her wrist. So when she was spiritedly stroke a backhand, the remote freely flew over the air and landed just right on my forehead. Thankfully I got no bump. She felt so guilty afterwards, though. 

About a month ago, my friend bought the new Wii U Deluxe edition, and we all had been addicted playing the Nintendoland, a game that came with the console. We love playing the hide-and-seek/catch-me-if-you-can type of game. There are Animal Crossing: Sweet Day, Luigi's Ghost Mansion and Mario Chase. Among the three, we play Sweet Day the most. The game basically consists of the animals and gate keepers. Animals have a mission to collect certain amount of candies and gate keepers have to catch the animals three times before they collect enough candies to win. The more candies an animal collect, the slower the animal run. So it is really funny seeing an animal who is being chased keep throwing out all of its candies so it can walk faster. 


The other game that we just got was in my wish list, Super Mario Bros. U. I played it last night, and it was fun. If you played nintendo when you were a child of if you are old enough have nintendo in your childhood, you should remember Super Mario Bros game, the one with all the coins, mushrooms, flowers, etc. The new game of course comes in more features and different variations of stages, but it is still pretty awesome. The original retail price for a Wii U game is $59.99. It is very expensive for a game, but we got it for half off using Groupon and some tricks that I don't really recommend using. 

Anyway, have an awesome week guys! 

Sunday, December 02, 2012

Blogmas 1, 2012 ❄ Holiday Plans

Hey people! 
It's now December and Christmas is finally coming really soon!! In the spirit of Christmas, I will blog every single day, at least I will try to. It requires commitment, but I'm down for it. 
Vlogmas is now the hype of many Youtubers, and since I don't make videos and don't plan to anytime soon, I thought why not write a post?

For the holiday, my friends and I had had changed plans numerously, and finally settled on a road trip. I really thought that this would be my last hurrah before I had to go back home to my hometown, but me getting a job changes that. One pastor joked on a Sunday Service, "If you want to make God laugh, show Him your plan." Not all people laugh at his joke, but I did. I've always known that people can only make plans, and God is the one who decides. And this proves it. God knows best, and He has all things planned way ahead of us. 

So for the road trip, We will drive to Los Angeles on the 24th and continue to Antelope Canyon National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park and spend the new year in Las Vegas. I can't wait to finally hit the road and enjoy the vacation before I start my work. It is exciting and terrifying at the same time. I remember every time I start a new chapter in my life, I always feel the need to sit down and pray asking for strength and guidance. I always feel helpless when I don't know what's coming, but praying helps. I don't know what the future will bring, but it is relieving to know I can always rely on Him. 

Until the next blog...

My Holiday Wish List + Big News!

Hey everyone!
I have a really great news to share with you guys. Last Thursday, I was slouching at my desk watching a beauty video on Youtube when I got a call from the HR Manager of the company I have been waiting good news from. And yes, I got the offer! I was literally jumping up and down when she told me. I had been having good feelings for a couple of days before, and I'm really glad that I got the job. It feels nice to finally be able to plan for the long term. Thank You, Lord. =)

 I have a bunch of stuff on my Holiday wish list and I thought it'd be fun to share with you guys. It might be a good gift ideas for your girlfriends/sisters/moms since my wish list consists of mostly if not all girly things.  Please keep in mind that this is only my wish list, which means that some if not most of the items mentioned are not in my preferable price range but since it's a wish list, I get to wish whatever I want. ;)

Laura Mercier Foundation




1. Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation 
I admit I am kinda late. I've hear amazing reviews, I've seen tons of demo using this product and I have tried the sample size my self, and I still feel $43 is a lot for one foundation. I do have a $20 off coupon from Sephora for VIBs and am thinking to pick it out myself. 

Tory Burch Flats
This flats come in three different styles-metallics, leather and suede. I prefer the suede one because I feel like the meeting point of the sparkly bows and the suede soft texture brings a classic and elegant finish. I love this shoes. 

3. Super Mario Bros Wii U 
I am not an avid gamer, but I do love Mario Bros. I still remember the old times when my dad finally put his old nintendo and I got to play Super Mario until I bored myself with the game. My friend just got a Wii U at his home, and It'd be a perfect game for, ehm, me, to play with my friends.

4. Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau de Toilette
I love this fragrance. This was in my last wish list, and I still haven't managed to get one because I still have my good ol' Benetton Paradise which I have gone through my second bottle. I don't like stock up on perfumes because my mom always told me that long-kept perfumes can turn bad.



5. Celine Trapeze Multicolor Bag
Okay, so this bag has been my ultimate item in my wish list, which means that it will be in the wish list for a loooonnnggg time, possibly forever. I just can't wrap my mind in spending thousands of dollars for a bag regardless how much I love it. But maybe in the future, who knows ;)




6. Calf Hair Belt
Calf hair sounds really cruel. I'm sure there are tons of synthetic hair belts that just as pretty as the real one. I just love the texture and how different it is from traditional leather belt.

7. Hair Cut
This might sound silly, but I do wish to have a hair cut before the holiday. It's hard enough to maintain long beautiful hair, but trusting someone new to cut my hair is harder. I have been having the same person cut my hair for the last 10 years. Maybe I have trust issue that's never been resolved. I don't know why. Any good recommendation?

8. Last but not least, spending the holiday with my loved ones.
Although my family is far away, I am grateful to be blessed with great friends whom I have made my family here. Having people you love around you is just the key of happiness. It might sound cheesy, but it's true.

That's all folks! 
What do you have in your wish list? 

( ˘⌣˘)ε˘`)

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

I ❤ Drugstore Makeup Tag!

Hi everyone!
I ❤ Drugstore Makeup Tag videos are around in the Youtube world. 
I don't do videos, not yet at least, but I think blogging about it would be as fun. 
So let's start!

Revlon Lip Buttes
1. What is your favorite drugstore makeup brand?
I love NYX for its rich variety of products and colors. I love Revlon for its great quality of products. I also love Rimmel. It's hard to pick just one. Arrghh..I guess I have to go with Revlon. 

2. What are your favorite face, cheek and lip products?
Face: Revlon Whipped Foundation stole my heart. Its thick consistency and great coverage would never go wrong on me. 
Cheek: I love CoverGirl Cheekers and Rimmel Lasting Finish Blush. I also love Rimmel Bronzer in Sun Light. 
Lips: Revlon Lip Butter in Peach Parfait and Rimmel Moisture Renew in Nude Delight 

3. Least favorite product?
Maybelline Fit Me Foundation. It makes my face greasy just few hours after I apply it on my face.

Wet 'N Wild Eyeshadows
4. What is the best makeup bargain?
Wet 'N Wild eyeshadows palletes. They are really pigmented, and they last a really long time!

5. What is your favorite underdog product? (Something you love that often gets overlooked?)
I have a couple of products under this category. First, CoverGirl Cheekers. I know it was once people's favorite, but I don't really hear them anymore nowadays on Youtubeland. I love the color selections as well as the color payoff. They're good stuff. I also love NYX stay matte but not flat powder foundation. I don't hear about this product much. I like the coverage it gives. You can wear it on top of your liquid foundation to set the makeup but don't use it as you would alone because it can make your face look powdery.

Revlon ColorStay
Whipped Foundation

6. A drugstore product that is overpriced?
I really think some of the foundations are overpriced. I wouldn't have bought Revlon Colorstay Whipped Foundation which is $14 at Ulta if it weren't for Beauty Broadcast's recommendation. As much as I love this foundation, the price is still quite high for me. 

7. Show your best drugstore dupe(s)!
Please don't hate me for this, but I don't really have any drugstore dupes that I own. system is to purchase the dupe directly based on the swatches I saw on youtube and blogs. Call me cheap, but I call it saving. Haha. =P

8. Drugstore product that isn't worth the hype?
BB Cream, for sure. It's just ridiculous for me personally how companies advertise their BB Cream products as "Asian sensation". They just don't last as well as foundation. The coverage is pretty much like tinted moisturizer. The idea of BB cream as a middle ground between a tinted moisturizer and a foundation is really just marketing gimmick. It is also sometimes more expensive than a foundation. 


Thank you for reading. Don't forget to subscribe!
Have a fabulous week =)

❤❤❤



❤ My black friday shopping consisted of me in my jammies in fron of my laptop. How was yours? ;)
❤ I am currently loving Once Upon A Time. Love this TV series. 
❤ I watched the new 007 movie, Skyfall, and it was so good! I can't wait to watch Breaking Dawn Part 2 this coming Friday. 
❤  My anniversary is coming up soon, and I still haven't found the right present. Any idea?

Saturday, November 24, 2012

Travel: OOTD in Washington, D.C.

Fall in east coast is like winter in west coast. When I first landed in Washington, I felt like I was freezing. My body adjusted after a few days. With my thermal, boots, gloves and a warm jacket, I am good to go. 

My boots kept me warm and cozy throughout the long and cold walk in DC. 
Sketchers (old)
This picture is taken in front of the white house. It is crazy how far the actual building is from the gate. I was told that you will get shot if you try climbing the fence. 
Jacket - Northface
Colorblock Sweater - Loft
Jeans - Giordano
Bag - The Limited
 This picture is taken just outside the Smithsonian Museum. Behind me is the U.S. Capitol, the meeting place for U.S. congress. 
Sunglasses - Van Heusen
Open Cardigan - Loft
Mint Tank - Forever 21
Scarf - Unbranded
Belt - G2000 (comes with pants I bought)
Jeans - Giordano

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Black Friday Beauty Deals/Shopping Tips! (2012)

Hi everyone! 
Thanksgiving is just 2 days away, and if you are like me, you'd be excited as I am to hunt for great deals.
This is my first time really to want to participate in the hype of Thanksgiving shopping. I guess it's partly because I might not be in the U.S. next year so I want to do it just for the sake of experience and of course, great deals. 

I notice that many stores don't post their Black Friday Deals on their website, so you might have to work extra to find their deals. I find one of the best ways to find deals is through their Facebook pages. I'm not really an expert in marketing, but posting deals 'exclusively' for their Facebook fans or other social media followers will encourage people to support their pages and hence more brand awareness.

Make sure to also sign up for their email subscription to be updated on special sale.

Anyway, here are the beauty deals I find for my favorite stores:


American Eagle 
You can find deals here




CVS
You can find deals here





Forever 21
You can find deals here
40% off selected items

LOFT
You can find deals here

40% OFF Everything with code ENJOY

Sephora 
You can find deals here

Smashbox
You can find deals here


ULTA
You can find the deals here

Another shopping tips I got from my friend Vero from hengkyvero.blogspot.com  to use Ebates when you shop online. You'll get paid to shop! Or at least that's what they tell you, for me it's just an extra discount =)

How it works it you sign up to create an account and you can just click what store you want and you will be redirected to the store website. Ebates tracks every purchase you make from the their link. Every period you will get a check in your mail.  

Thank you for reading.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone! 
Have fun shopping and be safe! =)

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Thanksgiving Giveaway: Maybelline, Revlon, Rimmel London and more!

Hi everyone! 
In the spirit of thanksgiving, I have a giveaway for those who follow my blog and social media sites. I am giving away a beauty bag filled with my favorites. 
Here are the what the winner will get:
 ♥ Leopard-print Beauty Bag
 ♥ 1 Maybelline Mega Plush Mascara
 ♥ 1 Maybelline Master Drama Eyeliner - Jet Black
 ♥ 1 Rimmel eyeshadow quad - Smokey Brun
 ♥ 1 Rimmel eyeshadow quad - Smokey Purple
 ♥ 1 Revlon Lip Butter - Peach Parfait
 ♥ 1 Rimmel Lipgloss - Nonstop Glamour
 ♥ 1 Revlon PhotoReady Bronzer
 ♥ 1 ecotools Face Brush


I've featured these two eyeshadows here and here


Oh, I am also throwing an eyelash curler from e.l.f as an added bonus!


These products are all the things that I use on day-to-day basis. They are my favorites, and I hope that can be yours too, at least the winner's. =)

For a chance to win:
-SUBSCRIBE to my blog by clicking on "Join This Site" on the right hand side of this blog
-LIKE Miss Kristani on Facebook
-FOLLOW me on Twitter
-COMMENT below telling me what is your plan for the Thanksgiving holiday
Please also leave a way for me to connect with you - twitter/email would be best.

This giveaway is open for U.S. only and will wrap up in one week, which is November 22, 2012 - at 7 PM PST.  The winner will be contacted on the same day and will have to get back to me by November 24, 2012..otherwise a new winner will be chosen.

Thank you for stopping by my blog, and all the best! 
Or following The Hunger Games, May the odds be ever in your favor!


Wednesday, November 14, 2012

LOTD: Purple Shadows and Winged Eyeliner

Hello everyone! I hope you all are having a great week so far. It's almost weekend, so hang in there!
Thanksgiving is next week. Can you believe it? It's way way to soon.                                                                                                                                

I don't have special plan for thanksgiving. At least not yet. For now, I am just looking forward for the Black Friday even though I never really shop during the crazy sale, but I just like participating in the shopping madness by hanging out or something like that.

Currently watching The X Factor while writing this post. The singers are crazy good! I can't decide who's my favorite.

Anyway, today I have an LOTD for you guys. I was feeling a little groomed up today, so I thought to do a simple look which turned out to be quite a heavy makeup. I put way too much bronzer. It wouldn't be my typical day-to-day look, but I love bronzer so much that it is hard for me not to use it 'generously'. 
Rimmel Glam'Eyes Quad - Smokey Purple
Liner: 
I am not yet an expert in winging my eyeliner, so when I do so, I use a matte black eyeshadow with an angled brush instead of using a liquid eyeliner directly. Black  eyeshadow is easier to work with and using angled brush helps for shaky hand like mine. Here I am using the black shade from theBalm 'Nude Tude Palette and I topped it off with Maybelline Master Drama in Jet Black
Mascara:
My favorite Almay Get Up and Grow! 


Maybellien Fit Me Foundation - 125
(I have to say I don't like this foundation. It makes my face greasy throughout the day. The only reason I use this is because I have it, and I hate put it into waste)
Physicians Formula HappyBooster Powder - Beige
Revlon PhotoReady Bronzer
Rimmel Blush - Santa Rose
Physicians Formula HappyBooster Powder - Translucent (highlight)


What's your plan for Thanksgiving? 
 ♥ ♥ ♥