December 30, 2011

sparkle & twinkle

About to head off to the airport to get to the Bay and squeezed in needed time to put on my nails for the NYE weekend. I wanted something simple but sparkly and I also wanted to make sure my nails can transition to any outfit I wear over the next few days. Thus I went for a nude sparkle. Really reminds me of Britney Spears' Toxic outfit.

Base: OPI for Sephora Nonfat Soy Half Caff
1st Coat: F21 Teal Glitter
2nd Coat: F21 Silver Glitter
Top Coat: Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Clear


December 29, 2011

ruby woo me


I've been stuck and bored with my makeup routine for a while. I never emphasized wearing lip gloss or lipstick because I always thought it would just rub off in less than half a day after I'm eating and drinking, so there's no point. Though lately I figured what the heck, so I've been incorporating nude and pink lipsticks from NARS and Benefit into my looks. But nothing really satisfied me or made me excited...until I decided to plunge into unknown territory and try the infamous red lip. Red lips can be a scary look to try because it's so bold and different. But I've seen so many women beautifully pull it off. I did a little research and I ultimately picked up MAC's Ruby Woo lipstick. It's a "true blue" red lipstick, meaning it has blue, cool undertones. Although my skin is more of a yellow undertone, the consultant suggested I stick with the "blue" red because it pops out more and makes your teeth and eyes look whiter. I fully agreed because I thought the yellow red just made me look sullen. Now I can't stop wearing this gorgeous red! It instantly perks and brightens my face up and I feel effortlessly done. Also this matte lipstick wears the whole day even after eating; I'm so impressed! I think any woman can pull off a red lip if they found the right red for their skin and look and are also ready for the daring change.

Today I put on taupe eyeshadow (Bare Escentuals "Queen Tiffany"), cat-lined my eyes with MAC black fluid line, and a bit of Bobbi Brown bronzer in Natural. Put on a bit of lip balm as a base and finished off my look with swiping and patting on MAC's Ruby Woo over Urban Decay rose-colored lip liner. Because you are emphasizing your lip, you want to tone down your other facial features, especially for the daytime. Can you imagine heavy, dark eye makeup with red lips? Personally I'd feel like a showgirl. And I mean like Elizabeth Berkley showgirl...not the look I'm going for.



December 25, 2011

peppermint bark

Merry Christmas lovelies!

I wanted to do something fun with my siblings for Christmas Eve so I decided to venture on my first candy/chocolate creation: peppermint bark. I love peppermint chocolate so I couldn't be more excited when I found out this was one of the simplest candy recipes ever.

Peppermint Bark
a couple things:
12oz semi-sweet chocolate chips
12oz white chocolate chips
10 candy canes

First line a baking pan with a non-stick sheet or parchment. This is where your candy will take hold. In a microwavable bowl, melt the semi-sweet chocolate chips in microwave at 20 second intervals. After each interval, stir with a spoon or rubber spatula (or with a rice scoop like me >_<). You MUST heat only in these short time intervals because chocolate is a very delicate ingredient that can burn quickly, so it must be heated in this controlled procedure. It took about total of 60 seconds to  melt all of the chocolate smoothly. Pour the semi-sweet chocolate into the pan and smooth it out flat with your spatula. Now let this layer cool off in the refrigerator for a good 30-40 minutes. At this time, put your candy canes inside of a ziploc bag and hammer the crap out of them to lil pieces. My brother had a lot of fun with that :)

Next repeat the melting process with your white chocolate chips and pour it on top of the cooled semi-sweet chocolate layer. Now sprinkle the peppermint pieces on top of the white chocolate and gently push them in. You can also mix the peppermint with the melted white chocolate first, but I found this made the white chocolate harden up, so it wasn't that easy to spread when pouring out onto the pan. Now cool for another 40-60 minutes. Enjoy!!

TIPS and NOTES
1. This was the first time I dealt with melting chocolate so I first read that using a double boiler is the way to go to make it perfect. I tried this and wow this process was very long and tedious. Plus I didn't read before hand that when melting chocolate comes in contact with any one drop of water, it seizes up instantly and thus makes it unmeltable. So in my double boiler, I had put the boiling water too high and there was so much condensation that it dripped into my bowl of chocolate. Wasted. But apparently this method is what true professionals use to make perfectly smooth chocolate.
2. I said screw it and used a microwave. Like I said before, chocolate burns easily, so you really want to control the heating process and I found the 20-sec interval process flawless. I didn't change the power settings at all. Remember to always use a completely dry spoon or spatula when mixing your chocolate. Plus this method was SUPER quick and easy, just the way I like it to be :) The chocolate turned out to be smooth too, so I really did not see a noticeable difference or lack in quality.



December 23, 2011

bumble bumble bee bee

I used to have this lil song I would sing to myself when I was bored at the age of 7 with only the words "bumble bumble bumble bee bee" in this very repetitive melody. So this post topic brought back memories...

Anyway I wanted to rave about Bumble & Bumble Texture creme. I'm sure most of you have heard of it. It's an amazing texture styling cream that works wonders for my thick, long hair that does nothing but stay straight or in weird kinks. So with just a pea-sized amount of this stuff, it separates and keeps my hair in perfectly tousled condition, even without a dryer or hot tool.  Just makes sure to always start with too little rather than too much and build it up. Too much will leave your hair a sticky mess. I put this in my damp hair from root to end, then roll my hair up into a bun to dry, which I always do.  And I'm left with this:



The volume and textured waves stayed the whole day and night and even until the next morning. I'm a very happy customer, especially since I took advantage of their "buy anything and get full-sized Bb. Texture creme free with free shipping" one day sale. So I also ended up with a travel-sized grooming creme which really does well in de-frizzing my hair and keeping it smooth. I'm a Bumble & Bumble convert!

slippin in motel

Oh Motel, my favorite favorite favorite brand to dress in. I've been eyeing this for months and finally pulled the trigger right when I saw an xs available. Couldn't wait to slip this Gina dress on for a night out in SF and now I have no memory of it....


December 20, 2011

christmas in the bay

I had an amazing time this weekend in the Bay Area, from San Francisco to San Jose. Satisfied my craving for Umami Burger in its new location on Union Street and caught the incredible action adventure Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol (9.5/10). Then trekked all the way to South Bay to catch Drake and J.Cole headlining 94.9 Wild Jam. They killed the show and left lasting memories of a great concert. Until the New Year, Bay Area :)

I also decided to stray from my regular camera and try out my new iPhone 4S. Unfortunately it doesn't live up to my expectations. Pictures look good when they are small, but not blown up especially for editing :(  Thus the graininess...



















































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































December 15, 2011

ch-ch-ch-chia

Chia seeds. My daily morning drink and breakfast for those rushed mornings. FULL of omega-3, making it the richest plant source, with levels higher than flax seeds and salmon. It absorbs water about 10x its own weight and forms a unique gel which will make you feel very full after one glass. Chia seeds are also super packed with antioxidants and fiber and has six times more calcium than milk.  It's a huge energy boost and is apparently very popular among athletes and marathon runners with its high protein content. The best thing is is that this little superfood is only about 60 calories per tablespoon and I usually drink 2-3 tablespoons every morning and I don't feel hungry at all until the late afternoon. So this is a perfect morning solution to a late lunch break. I simply mix water first with 1 tablespoon of honey and add three tablespoons of organic chia seeds and let it sit in water with occasional stirring for about 10 minutes for the seeds to gel up. I looove crunching down on the lil seeds while I'm drinking it up.

You have no reason to not try this intensely nutritious and cheap superfood so give it a go and you can make your "chia fresca" even more interesting by adding lemon, lime, or citrus. And yes, these seeds produce the famous Obama Chia Pet.

(at Whole Foods or Amazon)










































































(by no means am I promoting this as a replacement meal. Only supplementary to a healthy, balanced diet :])


December 14, 2011

heart's desire

So in love with this heart printed blouse I got from Nasty Gal. I'm having a developing obsession with blouses lately because of its romanticism, effortless chic, and perfect use in work outfits and this print really tops the cake of my collection. Wore this to work yesterday and transitioned it to a nighttime garden party. I opted for sleek black pants to make the lil hearts really pop out in the light. The blouse is tucked in so it's long enough to wear as a shirt-dress and belted with some leather skinnies for a real night out.











































































(Top: NastyGal, Pants: Banana Republic, Bag: Urban Outfitters, Shoes: Steve Madden)






























December 12, 2011

gifting mom

Here's another gift guide based on my personal and stressful experience shopping for my mom these past few christmases. And if your moms are like mine, they must be busy, busy, busy: too busy to shop for themselves and too busy to be at their own leisure. So forget the Kindle, my mom would never have time to sit down and read. Here are a couple things I know my mom and moms alike would love to get:







































(from top left clockwise)
1. A personalized canvas photo from Canvas Pop. Seriously, no mom would ever say no or frown to a blown up adorable photo of yourself or siblings in your chubby stubby stages of life. If you don't know what store she shops at or even what her favorite color is, then this is a fail-proof gift that would surely brighten up her days as a reminder of how cute and sweet you used to be (and still are). Or a memorable candid family photo would be just as perfect.
2. A gift certificate to SpaFinder or any local preferred spa. Stick with the old trick and treat your mom out to a day of pampering that's all about her. Take care of her errands and calls. It's the least she deserves after keeping everything in tip top shape during the holiday madness.
3. A warm, cozy sweater from Madewell. Like I said, if your mom is too busy to ever shop for herself, then help her out! Study the shades and styles in her closet. This sweater is so weather-perfect with the most gorgeous material. Provide a gift receipt and/or help her shop online together!
4. A shampoo/conditioner set from Carol's Daughter. You would be doing so much by just helping her look good and making her feel great about herself. The Tui line from CD is super moisturizing and healthy for hair and will make it shine and smooth.  And for a busy mom, washing her hair is already a part of her natural routine so take advantage of enriching her beauty without extra inconveniences.
5. A Clarisonic Mia. Like the shampoo/conditioner, this would be another enhancement to her daily routine and to her lasting beauty outside and in.
6. The softest and prettiest pullover from Anthropologie. Who can say no to cashmere?

December 7, 2011

christmas wishes

Just a little holiday gift inspiration guide.


1. Touchscreen Gloves $14
2. Jo Malone Wild Bluebell & Orange Blossom Cologne $55/each
3. Memo Board $46.99
4. Monserat De Lucca necklaces $70 & $80
5. Bakesale Betty Ginger Molasses Cookie Mix $11.87
6. Miette Bakebook $16.18
7. Mirror Tray $53.55 for 2

December 5, 2011

beauty of oil

Being undeniably loyal to Traders, these oils are a staple in my skincare. They're natural, super-beneficial, cheap, and plentiful. I can't be happier switching from my old makeup remover overloaded with synthetic chemicals to pure jojoba oil for removing my (waterproof) eye makeup. Soaking a cotton pad and pressing it on the eye for 2 seconds will remove any makeup and moisturize your eye in one step. It's also said to condition the lashes and induce growth; could be just me but I think my lashes are definitely more lush. And don't worry, jojoba oil is not an eye irritant nor is it allergenic. The vitamin E oil serves as the antioxidant base under my daily moisturizer. It's so helpful in erasing scars and brown spots on my skin because it speeds up skin cell regeneration. It's also such a powerful anti-aging topical oil because it promotes the production of collagen and elastin in your skin, thereby reducing and preventing age spots and wrinkles. And I vow to never get wrinkles!! Lastly I always spray a bit of lavender oil on my arms and neck after a shower or just before bed for a relaxing, pleasant linger of aromatherapy. It's one of my favorite fragrances that is always kept in the air in my room via candle or air freshener.