Saturday, July 28, 2012

LOTD: Hi-Lo Dress

Hey friends!
Happy Saturday! I am always in a good mood when weekend comes. Hehe. I have nothing special planned, but Saturday is the day that I get to spend time with my friends or just hang around at home all day without feeling guilty. 

Today, I feel a little bit dressing-up.
I'm totally in love with the dress I picked up from Target a couple of days ago.
I've been eyeing a hi-lo dress for quite some time now, and I finally found this one on sale. 
It was the only on the rack, it was also my size. So I was thrilled. 
Hi-Lo dress is basically a dress that has higher hemline at the front and lower at the back. It's actually a little bit too long for my taste. I am 5' 2". 
But if I pair it with some heels, I'm good to go. =)

Hair up or hair down?
Face:

  • Maybelline Fit Me Foundation - shade 125
  • The Body Shop Flawless Skin Concealer Stick-03
  • Maybelline Dream Lumi - Nude Chair (under eye area)
  • Physicians' Formula Happy Booster Powder-Beige
  • Rimmel Bronzer - Sun Light
  • Benefit Cha Cha tint (cheek and lips)
  • Physician's Formula Happy Booster Powder - Translucent (highlight) 
  • e.l.f High Definition Powder (setting powder)
Eyes:
  • Sigma Paris Palette - Elysees (lid)
  • Urban Decay Naked Palette - Virgin (highlight) and toasted (crease)
  • The Face Shop Pencil Eyeliner
  • Almay One Coat get up & grow mascara



What's your plans for weekend? 
=)


Thursday, July 26, 2012

Verity's 2nd Birthday!

My friends invited me to their daughter's birthday party last night. Verity just turned 2 years old.
The name "Verity" is taken from the latin word veritas which means truth.  
I have been knowing the family for the past couple of years, and it's such a joy watching Verity grow to be a cute little girl. Her mom is expecting a second child, and it can be anytime now. 

It has been so warm these past few weeks. I have been avoiding foundation because everytime I use foundation, I feel like the heat sweats off the foundation of my face. 
Here are all the makeup products I used:
  • NYX "Stay Matte Not Flat" Powder Foundation in Warm Beige
  • Benefit erase paste in Medium for under-eyes concealer
  • Sheer Cover concealer in medium
  • Revlon PhotoReady Bronzer in 100 Bronzed & Chic
  • Skin Food Apple Can Multiblusher
  • TooFaced Eyeshadow Insurance 
  • Rimmel Eyeshadow Quad in Smokey Brun
  • Urban Decay Naked Palette ( Darkhorse for crease and virgin for highlight)
  • Marbella Permanent Eyeliner Pen (Love this stuff!)
  • Almay One coat get up & grow Mascara
  • Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Honey

dress from American Eagle

photo shoot background

Yummy Ice Cream Cake by Bertha from Gourmet Baking

The Birthday Girl with all the presents

One of the presents in this cute lady bug tent!
I wish I had this when I was little. So jealous!

The birthday girl is obsessed with Cookie Monster, so we got her this cookie set along with the
Cookie Monster doll.

Friday, July 20, 2012

Makeup 101



Hey friends! 
I've got quite a lot of questions about how and where to start with makeup. 
I think it would be easier if you guys watch it instead of reading my answers on a blogpost because sometimes it could be a lot of information to read. 
I've watched a lot of beauty videos that can answer these questions.
I'll share with you guys ones that I think the most helpful and informative videos. 
I really trust these beauty gurus for their sincere and honest opinions.

1. How to Choose a Drugstore Foundation
emilynoel83

2. Drugstore Makeup Starter Kit
emilynoel83

3. Contouring Tutorial- How to Sculpt Your Face
MakeupByTiffanyD


4. How To Highlight Your Skin
MakeupByTiffanyD

5. Basic & Natural Eyebrow Tutorial 
DiamondsAndHeels14

6. Back to Basic: Eye Makeup
emilynoel83

Hope this helps you get familiar with makeup
=)

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Bauble Bar

I just want to quickly share my latest favorite piece of jewelry. 
It's a bracelet I got from baublebar several weeks ago. 

I first saw the bracelet from missglamorazzi's video, and it was love at first sight. Haha.

 

It's called Roseland Disco Wrap. I'm pretty use it's one of their bestsellers, and when I finally got it in the mail, I love it even more. It originally costs $28, but I got $10 off form first-time buyer. 

 Since I love it so much, I got really excited when I saw they launched the silver one. I went ahead and bought it assuming they have the same quality, sparkle and all. I thought of giving it to my sister. I got the bracelet yesterday. I must say I'm pretty disappointed. The 'disco balls' are not as sparkly, and the silver beads seem dated and worn off. I'm thinking of returning it.

Silver Glitz Band

What do you think?
What's your favorite jewelry piece?

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Camping at June Lake

Hello everyone! 
Last weekend I went camping with my friends. By now, you might get the idea that we are outdoor junkies. Haha. But I still like shopping and city lights at night. So, everything is about balance for me =)




Anyway, this is my third time going to the Mammoth Lakes area. June Lake is about 20 minutes from the city, which according to my friends is about to be broke. 
I honestly got sick of the road trip itself, sitting in a car for more than 6 hours. I've got enough of that in the last couple of months. But the destination is really well worth it!
We camped out in Oh Ridge Campsite, which is just around June Lake. The weather was perfect. 

It was by far the most relaxing camping ever. We swam and played in the June Lake regardless the cold water, but we didn't go hiking like we usually did. 





The water is so clear! It might not look like it in the picture, but I'm freezing!

Mono Lake - 2.5X saltier than the sea.
We went to Mono Lake at sunset. The sky was really beautiful. It was about 20-minute drive from the campsite. This is also my third time going there, but I've never gone there at sunset. 





Sunday, July 08, 2012

Houseboating in Lake Shasta



Last weekend, I went on a spontaneous houseboating trip. I had been travelling for two weeks with my family, and my friends, out of nowhere, asked me to go houseboating just the day after my family went back home. I was tired but would never miss it for the world.
This is my second time going. We got a deal to rent the houseboat on Lake Shasta.
It was really fun! There were 11 of us in one houseboat for 2 days and 2 nights. We got to swim in the lake and the view was really mesmerizing.
I got the VIP bed too with window look over the lake =)














My friend was patiently fishing

My lake-view bed =)
♥ ♥ ♥ 

*courtesy of photos  of my friend, Herman Yudi. 
Some photos are my own =)

Friday, July 06, 2012

Summer Haul!


Hey everyone!
I've done some shopping when my family was here for a visit. And then some on my own. =P

I feel like Bath&Body Works is always on sale. Am I right? Their body care products were all on 'buy 3 get 3' sale.  
These are all for me..

and these are for my boyfriend. He picked them up himself. Quite surprising actually because he typically doesn't care for this kind of thing. 


These mini candles were 2 for $5. I originally wanted to pick up the huge one for $19.50, but then I thought I can get 4 or even 6 mini candles with the same amount of candles. Plus, I get to put the candles everywhere, which I wouldn't be able to do with only one giant candle. 
A little tip from an Accounting major. Everything is always in calculation. =p

The hand soaps were $3 each. My boyfriend likes the Sea Island Cotton one, and I liked the Sweet Pea. I now have the shower gel, body lotion and hand soap in Sweet Pea. Do you wear matching shower gel and body lotion?


 I was really excited when this cute iPhone case finally came in the mail. It was supposed to arrive long time ago, but for some reason I didn't get the package in the mail even thought the tracking ID said otherwise. I really thought someone took it, but whatevs. I contacted the seller on ebay and he agreed to send me another one. How nice!

I love the colors. I also love the  melting-look-alike texture. It reminds me of ice cream kind of.   


I ran out of my Tresemme heat protector, so I bought the Joh Frieda Frizz-Ease Protective Styling Spray. It smells good, and I think, based on abundant reviews, it gets the job done. Protecting your hair from the heat is extremely important. Trust me. I learned the hard way. I used to think that back in the day people didn't need heat protector, so why use it now? I was wrong. Just because we don't have it doesn't mean we don't need it. I've got major split ends for as long as I can remember. My hair is extremely dry and damaged, but it's getting better now. 

The Tresemme Split Remedy Leave-in conditioner does its job really well. The other day after I curled my hair, I noticed how dry and tangled my hair was. I pumped a pea-size amount of the conditioner and just lather it on my hair, and it gives an instant moisture. Tangle no more!
It also makes your hair look shinier and healthier. 

left to right:
Elizabeth Arden High Shine Lip Gloss in Rose Gold
Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Lovesick
Revlon Super Lustrous Lipgloss in Foiled
One Natural Shea Butter Lip Balm in Berry delicious
Another lip products for me. I think I'm kinda a lip junkie. My mom gave me the Elizabeth Arden one. I've never thought of the brand before. I've heard of it but never really try anything from the brand. 
I love jumbo lip pencils like the Revlon Balm Stain. It gives you a lot of control, and it's just fun to apply on your lips. But the Lovesick is not really right for me though. It's fun for tutorial and all, but I'm not typically comfortable wearing such bright color on my lips. It might grow on me though someday. 
I've heard emilynoel83 raved so much about Revlon Super Lustrous lipgloss, so I went ahead to pick up one and try for myself. I like it so far. It's shimmery, glossy but not sticky at all. I've been told that sticky lip glosses help them stick longer on your lips, but I just don't like them. 
My mom bought One lip balms for her friends as souvenirs. I've never tried one before. She told me that products containing shea butter are usually really hydrating and moisturizing, so she picked one up for me too. 


Forever 21 floral short shorts. Love 'em! 

Van Heusen Colorful Plaid Scarf. It was on sale from $45 to $15. Wow!

Have you ever heard about the Pandora bracelets? I've never heard of it until my mom bought me this bracelet. We were on Harrah's hotel at South Lake Tahoe, and there was a jewel store selling this bracelet. It was supposed to be a dupe for the Pandora bracelet. The original one is really expensive, you have to purchase each charm for at least $20 each. 
You get this entire bracelet for the same price. 

If you haven't known already, I love bracelets. I picked these from H&M and the the mint green one is from Forever 21. 

Swarovski Hello Kitty Pendant


This navy necklace is from Old Navy. I never knew Old Navy sold any jewelries. I loved this particular one because of the color and the various charms around it. I wore this on the 4th of July, which by the way, I spent with watching movies and fireworks!
How's your 4th of July?


Wednesday, July 04, 2012

Last 2 Weeks

Hello friends! Long time no blogging.

The last 2 weeks have been really busy for me. My family came to town, my graduation, vacation trip, road trip, and house boating! It's crazy how I could fit everything in just under two weeks, but it was really fun.

My parents and my sister came on the 14th, and they just went back home last Thursday night. We went to Las Vegas and Los Angeles. The last day of the trip was almost a disaster because our flight home from LA got delayed 4 times! Fortunately, we called in and got into the earlier flight. Phew! The day after the next day, we were already on the road again to Yosemite, Mammoth Lakes and Lake Tahoe for 3 days and 2 nights. It was really exhausting to be in a car for hours, but the companionship I got was priceless.
We also did a lot of shopping during the 2 weeks. I never shopped that intense before. Haha. I might post a haul later on.

It was pretty exciting to wait on my family to come out from the arrival gate at the airport, but it was really heartbreaking to let them go at the departure. Well, life must go on. Vacation's over and it's time to go back to the real life. Job hunting, here I am.