12.25.2010 Xmas Time

My bf came back from Hawaii! But I'm going to try not to make this such a lovey-dovey blog. If anything, I'll only be cuddling with my baby dog, Porkchop on here. Plus I was trying to get my bf to take my picture, and it was so blurry. I cannot depend on him to be my photographer. haha. So instead, he got me a Tripod for Christmas. I'm already beginning to find it hard to use with the lens I got, since it's manual, and all. Oh well.

Merry Christmas, world.

12.21.2010 Sucked In

Omg! I have sucked myself into buying makeup products. I'm really trying not to, especially because I don't need anymore in my situation. What I bought was all elf, and it was all cheap anyway. And I'm always really thinking of what I buy anyway, and if I need it or not. Apparently, in this case, I do. I could have gone to Target or somewhere in search for these, but buying it online, (even though I'm paying shipping), I'm getting a "free" mini makeup collection. I'm super excited for this except I'm afraid what I should be getting is sold out.

They also have the makeup collection in shimmer form, which I don't want. Hopefully they've set aside these for free gifts, otherwise I'm gonna be super disappointed. So, the best part of these is that the palettes are 5 bucks each. With shipping, this all came out to be just over 21 dollars. I was telling my friend, Liza about the makeup collection and how it looks perfect for travel. heh, and she laughs and goes, "You're already thinking about your travel kits." Hmm.. I guess that might sound like an inside joke. She likes looking for compact-able makeup suitable for travel purposes. I was also thinking of another beauty guru on youtube, Vanewpc, who talked about having mini makeup collections are perfect for travel. And well yes.. that is what sold me, that is the purpose.

12.20.2010 A Few Reviews

I feel compelled to put in my two cents on these two products. And I have both pros and cons with them which is why I want to talk specifically on them. Product #1, a fragrance pencil from Anthropologie in Taverns & the Hague by Caroline Sabas. I love the scent, I love the compact-ability, I love the cute packaging. And the price is alright. At 10 dollars, I supposed it's alright for what you get. According to the site, it's .14oz, and because of it's pencil application, it's ridiculously easy to apply. Now here's my con experience with it. The product gets used fast when your applying it on. This morning, I was pulling the string that it comes with to peel bits of the paper on top off, and the product is so delicate, that it snapped in half. I had to tape it back together. On top of that, the paper peeled so much that a chunk of fragrance broke off on top, and I had to smash it back to keep it together. I'm also a little disappointed at how quickly the fragrance goes away.

Product #2 (on the right, obv), is the e.l.f tone correcting concealer. And this is alright as well. I'm giving my Lancome waterproof undereye concealer a break and using the elf ones. I got two: light beige and apricot beige. I should have taken a picture of my undereyes which is where I applied it. I was trying out apricot beige first since light beige seemed too light. Although, I think it'll work just as fine. My friend (the one into beauty) told me it looked fine. I've been really inspired by Lisa Eldridge. She's been using elf products in her videos and making it look so easy to apply. I now want to buy the books. heh. On the side note on this tone correcting concealer product. It has this odd citrus-y smell. I love my citrus scents, but this one was way too sweet for me. It surprised me. I'll still use it, because I bought them for a dollar each, but I'm a little turned off by the smell. I might have to shed a little dough and buy the studio concealers that are about 3 dollars. Those are the ones Lisa Eldridge used in her videos anyway.

12.19.2010 Babycakes

Not entirely back to normal yet, but a trip for cupcakes with my good friend and dog made it seem a little better. Except, I now keep dreaming for more cupcakes from Babycakes. I had the Cha Cha Chai, and my friend had the Red Velvet. Unfortunately, I didn't see some other ones I wished I might have got instead, like Pomegranite, or Hazelnut. Yum. I can't wait to go back.

12.18.2010 NonBeaute

Let's not sugarcoat this. I'm in an awkward situation right now.

12.15.2010 Beauty Realizations

I realized I don't have a bathroom of my own, so every time I go and do my makeup, I have to bring my toiletries with me. Or keep it in somewhere so that I can lug it around. I also realized the makeup I keep in my purse isn't much. Maybe I'll post that another time. Hmm, I have also decided to do a project ten pan. But in my case I'm going to do maybe a project several pan. I really want to finish my Maybelline powder Foundation (the gray compact), and use up my Rimmel Lasting Finish foundation. I'm noticing that it has all these pink undertones that don't match me, and so I have to mix it with my green Smashbox primer. It work's pretty well. And because of all that, I'm noticing how fast I'm using it up. Next thing you know, I'll be done using that primer. And there goes another item. I'm also almost done with my Carmex jar which to begin with, I never really liked. And now I feel like it's the best thing that's worked on my chapped lips.

Ooh, I should also mention I finally bought the Garnier eye ball roller thing. It's okay. You're supposed to roll it from your inner to outer corner under your eyes and then pat it out to evenly separate, and I felt at first I wasn't getting any product and then I was rolling it several times to feel like something was coming out. Before, I was using this one sample eye serum I got from Amore Pacific, but that's a real expensive buy, all by itself so I think the Garnier product's a good substitute. Hmm. You know actually, it's ridiculous, but I did feel like it was someone noticeable right away. Haha.

I'm hardly having any time these days but mainly my beauty routine is all the same. If anything, I'm just trying to enhance it. I've also tried to attempt a look the day after a night where my eyes were all puffy. I noticed one of my eyes became monolid. It was not a pretty sight, but then I just tried doing a smudged eyeliner. The look came out alright.

12.11.10 Beauty & Stolen branches

Yesterday morning, I took Porkchop to the park for a walk and ran into some fallen branches. My friend's been asking me to come up with a branch display for her wedding next month, and I thought of collecting them every time I go to the park. And this is the perfect time since it's Autumn, and leaves are falling off trees like it's going out of style. Instead, last night I showed them to her and she thought of using them for her bridal party earlier today. Not only that, but I ended up helping her with her favors. One of my best friends even came down from Las Vegas. It was fun, and I won the first prize in her party games. It was a game of who had the most called items in their purses. I had 14 out of 20. And I was so excited that my prizes were beauty related. Unfortunately I don't have pictures of my wins, but it's really just Victoria's Secret Stawberries and Champage lotion and body spray.

Oooh, soo I've been getting really into Lisa Eldridge's makeup tutorials, and she is so ridiculously glam, it's inspiring. And she uses drugstore to high end and does it flawlessly. I've learned so much because of her. I've even gone out to get some products I've seen her use that I can afford like No 7's Nude Lip Pencil, and just this morning, I got an elf blush in Pink Lemonade. I can't stress her enough. Lisaeldridge.com. Oh, and yesterday after walking my dog, I did stop by Target and had to pick up ink for my printer. While I was there I was looking for the Pink Lemonade blush and it wasn't there, so instead I picked up the golden blusher/highlight/all over cover stick, two concealors in light beige and apricot beige, eye makeup remover pads which doesn't look like or feel like much. The No 7 lip pencil in Nude, and a Sonia Kashuk's nail polish in Tauped.

Oh and while I was looking up Sonia Kashuk's Tauped nail polish right now, I came upon this site, http://www.stylelist.com/2010/09/10/hottest-nail-colors/3. The first thing is Chanel's nail polish in Khaki vert which I've seen Lisa Eldridge wear as well, and it's a shade I am lusting after except I heard it it's hard to find these days. From seeing Lisa Eldridge wear it, it looks like Jade on your finger nails. At least it looks like Essie has a similar shade.

12.8.10 Missing the Days

Today I got lost in Point Loma, here in San Diego. Point Loma is a Harbor town here that's not too far from where I live (at least I tend to think it's not that far, but then hello, I got lost). It's past our Airport, and I think that because it's by the harbor, I've fallen in love again with all things nautical. This isn't a beauty related post, or a fashion one, but the fact that I wish I had a better camera with me. Because when I got lost, I ran into some of the most beautiful sites in San Diego I've ever seen.

I want to also mention that I have this crazy love for lighthouses. I think it began when I was just a child and seeing the Lighthouse of Alexandria in my old Childcraft books about the Seven Wonders of the Ancient world. In fact, all the Ancient wonders in my Childcraft books made them incredibly idyllic. I always dreamed to one day see the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, and then soon realized it didn't exist anymore. Ahh, nostalgia.

So anyways, I fell in love with the ocean again, and I wish my pictures captured what I had just seen better. But then, as for right now, I'll be in and out of Point Loma for a little bit, so I'm lucky to see the sites and take in the views.

12.5.2010 Beauty FOTD

My friend who got me into beauty told me about this British makeup artist named Lisa Eldridge and then I started watching her beauty videos. And then I became inspired. Not only does the makeup she does on editorials look amazing, but she's ridiculously beautiful. And tonight, I'm about to head out for my mom's birthday, and I was inspired by Lisa when I did my makeup. I was going for simple and fresh look and I think I kind of achieved it. Although I'm beginning to have wished I used some eyedrops in this one.

I'm going to attempt a step-by-step approach to how I did this look.

1. Moisturized.

2. Mixed primer and foundation and applied it with a foundation brush.

3. With the same brush, I applied Mac's Joie de Vivre on my cheeks.

4. Dusted my face with a Maybelline powder foundation.

5. Applied a Covergirl lipstain then applied a pink gloss over it, but then it looked like too much so I tried taking it off, but there was still a hint of lipstain, and so I just applied the pinkish lipgloss (man that was a long one.) haha.

6. Used Nyx's eyeliner in Pearl White on my brow bone and a tad on the inner corners of my eyes. Blended that.

7. Applied UDPP. And a taupish-brown generic eyeshadow on my eyelids.

8. Covergirl Lash Blast Luxe mascara (I think this is my favorite).

9. I eventually noticed how blah my eyes looked, and so I tightlined with a black-brown eyeliner.. and then a tad of black eyeliner on the bottom.

Dang.. I think next time I'll try to condense my beauty routine. And eventually try to achieve a 5-minute face. I was trying to do that a couple days ago, but it turned out to be a 10-minute face.

12.5.2010 December Nights

These are some of my favorite pictures I took from last night. Apparently December Nights in San Diego doesn't continue today, but instead was last Friday and Saturday. My friend Liza came down and we were able to make it to see the Toulouse Latrec exhibit at the Art Museum in Balboa Park. My only regret was not being able to take a picture of one of his prints using my phone. I always get self conscious whenever I want to do that, and then I leave with nothing but a memory. I think what hesitates me in doing so is having to be told that it's not allowed. I have had other instances when that has happened before. And maybe as a New Years resolution to myself would be to sneak pictures in museums starting next year. hehe. Who cares, right?

So these were taken with my new lens. I was really excited to use it. And I'm also getting excited at the results. Although as an amateur photographer, I'm beginning to learn the downsides to this new lens. It's not autofocus, so while I was munching on a hot dog in one hand, I couldn't really take a picture of it with the other. Whatever. I do feel like a photographer having to manually focus, and to be honest, I'm just having fun with it.

And, here's a picture of me that Liza took of when I handed her my camera. Not beauty related. And another downside is that the lens is really good for up close shots, and portraits. Not entirely Stockholm Streetstyle, but maybe now, I'll save for another lens that can give me results of full body shots like in street style pictures. I'll have to research.

12.2.10 Neville

I noticed much later, I needed to adjust the width in order to post these. A little about the name of my dog: I was going to name my dog Neville after Neville Longbottom in Harry Potter, but my mom couldn't really pronounce it. Then after watching Part 1 of the final series, the Deathly Hallows, I wished I named him Dobby. Then again, when I got him, I had wished I named him all sorts of names. Instead, Porkchop came from a cartoon I used to watch when I was younger called "Doug."

Anyways, my new toy came in the mail. The first lens I've bought for my camera. And thus, came Neville, whom I have decided to call my camera. We've had each other since around the beginning of summer. It was partly a gift from my mom and myself when I graduated college. Although he is quite clunky to tote around, I'm having fun with him. And now that I got this new lens, I'm going to have even more fun! Especially this weekend, where it's December Nights (formerly Christmas on the Prado, until the term Christmas became politically incorrect) at Balboa Park. I hope I'll even get to go. It's really fun, and I haven't been there since maybe middle school.. From what I remember is that it's mainly the museums in Balboa Park are going to be free. There's food and hot chocolate. And from what I remember, a beautiful sort of Christmas type of procession where everyone stopped just to watch.

My first picture using my new lens

Being excited, and taking pictures of aimless things

Having started the Christmas decorations, and unoriginally, learning to bokeh

12.2.10 LNO (Last Night's Outfit)

(Oh, by the way, I'm wearing an old 1970's wool cardigan from my mom, a cable knit sweater from Target, cordoroy pants from Banana Republic, dark brown suede oxfords shoes. And cream colored Fossil messenger-type bag.)

My outfit of last night. Or, the beginning of the month. It was my friend's birthday and she had it at this American eatery in Point Loma, here in San Diego. It was really pretty. Right on the bay. I unfortunately didn't bring my camera. But I do plan on going back, just as soon as Eric, my bf comes back home.

So my outfit probably looks a little frumpy. But I'm also beginning to feel like it's me too. Ever since Thanksgiving, and the fact that it's getting cold, I always tend to gain weight around this time of year. Not that I'm entirely fit or anything. I don't have a schedule of exercising, even though I'd like to. To be honest, probably like most people, I'm feeling insecurities in myself. I'm also going to be a bridesmaid next month and the dress I have to wear show's a lot of arm. And my arms right now are buffer than ever (and I mean that in a sarcastic, they're really thick as thieves right now, kind of way).

But let's not be a Debbie Downer on myself. I'm excited in a way to find out that one the reality shows I watch, America's Next Top Model chose its winner last night. And I'm really excited over how beautiful her makeup looked in the very, very end. hmm. I should probably mention who it is, but I had to watch it through a recorder. It's one of the Tv programs I watch and because I wasn't able to watch it on time last night, I taped it. So, if there's anyone who reads this that doesn't want to know who wins, then stop reading now. I really didn't think it was rigged. And I really, really thought Chelsey would win. But no, it was Ann (who I was routing for), but I must admit, it really did seem like a hard pick. In a way, the only thing I can come of it being rigged probably had to do with the fact that the prize is looking for more of a high fashion look, which is Ann, and that was probably why they both met with the head guy at IMG, so that Chelsey could get booked too.. whatever, I don't know. But I'm really excited that the underdog won. If there's anyone's makeup look I want to attempt to copy, it would be Ann's at the very, very end. It was beautiful. She had smokey black and silver/grey eyes, with vibrant pink cheeks. I'm so inspired, I'm going to attempt her look on my own face.