HAPPY Late VALENTINES DAY AND HAPPY late BRITHDAY!!!

Just a quick post to say happy LATE valentines day to all and a happy birthday to my father! I hope you all had the chance to do something special with the ones you love : boyfriends, girlfriends,family, friends, or in my case, pet cats xD The beach is thirty minutes away from where I live so I hope to spend another weekend with my closest friends and family!It was the cutest thing when my mom and dad got eachother the same valentines gift this year! A trip to the beach! for those who don't know of Ventura beach, it looks like this...







so picturesque isn't it?











Once again, wishing a late happy valentines day to all !

Thanks for reading :)

Christmas surprises! (4) my christmas e.l.f

Well this is the last Christmas surprises post ! I am pretty sure I have completely bored everyone with my e.l.f hauls and reviews by now... but this was a gift, I swear! A totally unexpected (and very much appreciated) gift that brought with it this post . What can I say? my friends know me all to well! Get ready, because it's a long one!

Left to right : cool coral, rosy raisin, barely bitten, party pink
First up are four E.L.F mineral lipsticks . When I first heard the word "Mineral" I expected more of an all natural/ organic type of product. What it actually meant was that the lipstick had a sort of shimmery affect that was a result of tiny minerals infused throughout the product (oops aha).


This is the E.L.F mineral lipstick in rosy raisin. I was a little disappointed that the swatch was so different than the one online. The actual color is almost an exact match of my natural lip color which kinda of eliminates the whole purpose of a lipstick. However, I suppose this could come in handy some time .... :/ The consistency is creamy, soft, and definitely doesn't drag on my lips. I also appreciate the tiny shimmer in this lipstick because it creates a fuller lip.




Next is E.L.F mineral lipstick in the shade cool coral. I really love this shade because it's so unique yet it looks so natural! you can kind of see the gold-ish veins running through the coral color and there are also some splashes of red running through. I am really looking forward to wearing this shade often :)))



I'm glad I received two very opposite shades. It's a great way to experiment with what colors look best! but I have to say that deciding between them is actually really hard xD. this is the lipstick in the shade party pink, which look very light online but in reality, the shade is rather neutral. It is however, fairly pigmented, as all of these lipsticks are. It definitely looks pink on lips, but it doesn't stand out as bright or lighter than usual. The color also goes well with my medium toned skin despite being a lighter shade. It also looks natural despite obvious pigmentation ( its a pretty confusing shade). Nonetheless, I love it and plan to use it often, though I recommend it with more of a daytime look.


the last lipstick is in the shade barely bitten. this is a deep red color and doesn't take a lot of effort to achieve full pigmentation ( so I have to be a little more careful with this one ! ) This shade is pretty safe for those of us who can't pull of a red lipstick (and I mean RED lipstick) which is exactly what what I have been searching for. This is a good shade for the night but will also go well during the day ( just remember not to wear a super pigmented blush or eyeshadow with this on! )



I also received two lovely blushes from a dear friend in the shades candid coral and tickled pink. I had heard so much talk about the famed candid coral that was supposedly a dupe for the Nars blush in orgasm but I wouldn't know because I don't own Nars blush in that shade anyways :p



The top image is the E.L.F studio blush in candid coral and the bottom picture is the shade tickled pink. I was a bit let down to find that candid coal is rather orange and dark, not exactly my ideal blush . Also ,it has to be applied multiple times for the color to show against my skin. It has a lovely glow to it but i would not recommend it for those with dark or medium toned skin ( like myself) only because it has to be applied several times before pigmentation appears :/ . Tickled pink on the other hand is a very versitile shade and does show on my skin with just one layer. It is not sparkly but tiny flecks of gold in the blush create a very unique and subtle shimmer which I really appreciate.



Whew! and lastly I recieved the E.L.F everyday eyeshadow palate which sports 12 eyeshadow shades (generally warm colors like purple , brown, and black) . I don't use eyeshadow too often but I am happy to have this nearby before a night out. It's always nice to do something extra during special events or even spontaneously!



Another thing I don't use to often but still nice to have around: an eyeliner pencil. I usually prefer gel eyeliner (and I also do not own a sharpener xD ) but when doing a dramatic look it's better to have a pencil for precision.


Well that's all! my Christmas surprises posts have officially come to and end for the year :) thanks for being patient with me ! And thanks for reading :)

Christmas surprises! (3)

The two Christmas surprises mentioned in this post were the two presents that I had personally asked Santa for. I was so excited to unwrap them on Christmas that I used both immediately upon opening them! So here they are!

A curling wand from Remington





I knew that this was what I wanted as soon as I saw it in the store. I didn't even know it had actual pearls infused in the barrel until I read the packaging. I don't really HAVE to own a curling wand made with real pearls, but it sure makes me feel pretty special when using it! The wand came with this nifty glove to protect myself from the heat , and may I say it was definitely a good thing to "have at hand" (lol it's a pun!)


The wand shows you how hot it is and the highest I have set it to is 356 degrees, though I'm sure it goes higher ! the little bars underneath the digits indicate how far your setting is from maximum heat.


So far I have only used it to give myself waves and medium curls but I 'm never patient enough to create the shiny, bouncy curls I pictured having when I first saw the wand. Since I didn't actually read the packaging or pay attention to the directions on the back of the box when I saw it in the store, it's probably fair to say that what made me want it so badly was the color ( I know, I'm hopeless!)





A rice mask from skin food

The second item I asked for was a rice mask wash off from a new store that just opened in the mall. It's called skin food and it basically sells beauty products made with natural ingredients that are beneficial for your body. I have seen their ingredients vary from egg whites to black sugar. Some of the products are unbelievable, like caviar and gold serum or even salmon cosmetics! Of course there's also a bunch of facial masks that use herbs from distant lands with funny names xD !



The purpose of the rice mask is to gently exfoliate (using tiny grains of rice of course!) as well as soften your skin. When I received some samples I completely fell in love with the outcome as well as the fresh scent that is a natural characteristic of the mask. I also loved how only the tiniest bit of product is necessary for the mask to work! This jar is going to last me quite a long time ( the cheap part of me is very happy about this xDD )

The fact is, this stuff is a great skin softener though you shouldn't rely on it to exfoliate and polish like a sugar maks would ( By the way I can do a tutorial on a great sugar mask later...). This is more of a soothing mask that should be applied to a cleansed face before bed so as to allow its nutrients to be absorbed over night. The best results come from allowing the masks to soak in and settle before applying makeup or a cleanser. I wouldn't use this as a moisturizing method before I wear cosmetics or as a cleanser for removing makeup.

If you don't happen to have a rice mask lying around ( or a caviar and gold infused serum!) my best advise would be to apply lotion or some form of a moisturizer to your skin before you go to bed. Our skin uses sleep to replenish and will allow moisture to soak in during this time.

Thanks for reading! :)

Christmas surprises! (2) and a happy new year

I hope you all had a most wonderful New Years! It's certainly one the best times for getting together with friends and family. In my neighborhood, the kids bang pots and pans in the street and pop small firecrackers at 12 o'clock. I always feel sorry for those who try to get some rest on New Years Eve because I'm sure it's quite impossible xD.

It's always been fascinating to see how other countries celebrate this holiday, I know many places experience New Years hours before the U.S does ! It's so wonderful that everyone in the world can celebrate the new year together .


For Christmas, a friend of mine hand picked a collection of nail polish and chose a color for every holiday of the year so that I would always have a festive color for each season. Of course, the first color she picked was Gold for New Years eve.


I can't think of a holiday with more sparkles, glitter and shine that New Years Eve. From the sparkling shampagne to the shiny confetti, from the fireworks that light the sky above to the evening parties that shine through the streets below, the whole world seems to have a golden glow. And my fingenails are no exception!


Gold is actually very versatile and very forgiving as a nail polish. I would suggest it for all skin tones and all outfits because it seem s to go well with every color!


Gold with navy blue or bronze





Gold with teal


Gold with burgundy

Of course I suggest adding a little sparkle with accessories in order to enhance the color of your nails ( hence the gold chain in some of these pics)

Here's to a happy new year to come!

Thanks for reading :)

my christmas list part one

It is actually quite hysterical that my list is so long this year, I cant remember wanting a thing for my birthday this year yet come Christmas, I am adding things to my list as if my life depended on it. In reality I know that I won't likely get a lot this year given that we are experiencing a post-recession economy and money is being spent on my education as well. however, a girl can dream! Ever heard of Christmas miracles xD. anyways , if I don't get these items for Christmas it doesn't mean I cant save up my pennies and buy them for myself! so without further Ado, here is my Christmas wish list :

To: Santa
This year I would very much appreciate the following:

Furry Earmuff Headphones


I cant think of anything more functional than headphones that block out outside sounds and also keep ears warm! I saw these earphones from juicy couture and fell instantly in love. Definately on the top of my Christmas list.

five Floral Rings


A cute assortment of floral rings . these are adorable and have a vintage sort of look that is so cute and classy! The ones above are from wet seal.

Peppermint air freshener



Yes, Glade peppermint scented airfreshener, not that I need it haha.Because It smells absolutely amazing and very sweet. I really like the smell peppermint when I walk into a room so this is perfect for me! I have concluded that it is the perfect balance of candy and spearmint.

to be continued, thanks for reading :)

my world in fall

The days are growing shorter and fall has FINALLY come to visit my part of the world. I hope it stays for a loooong time. Usually, California is hot and sunny for most of the year so windy and chilly weather is rare and much appreciated. this is also a time when the natives around here ( referring to the bunnies and coyotes prepare for winter and a lot of burrowing is done in the land behind my house :p .
Lavender plants that grow in my backyard are begging to go dormant, but I managed to catch the last sign of them in this pic of lavender seed pods.My cat Fernie loooves to roll around in these, which is cute because he comes home smelling like a spa, but also kind of annoying because his big poof tail has millions of tiny seed pods entangled in his fur! He will do anything to avoid a brushing so I discourage him from rolling around in things .



I got this little decoration about three years ago , it reminds me of my cat because its so chubby! xD I'm not sure what the umbrella looking thing on its' head is for but i think it's still adorable . I put it on a bush next to the lavender plants so that it can really characterize Fernie !

Fall

October is coming quickly and with it, my favorite season. fall! :)))) I just love the weather and something about a windy day makes me feel so content. i love watching people scurry up and down streets to warmly lit homes and slowly, the city begins to prepare itself for Christmas. ( i don't really appreciate all the stores rushing to get into Christmas but it is the season a giving so it must be a big deal for them!) the leaves change into lovely warm colors and the atmosphere trades its warm august zephyr for a chilly October breeze. I love to be indoors when the weather is cold and sip hot chocolate with marshmallows, yummy. And who can forget the cozy fashions that go hand in hand with the season? from fluttering scarves to stiffly folded mufflers, people everywhere join in on the trend of the season (that is, staying warm :P) but fall is a time of color and what better way to display color than in layers? a personal favorite of mine is a pastel green army styled coat that my mom gave me . another thing i love about the season, is the vegetation. pumpkins ( pumpkin pie :DDDDD) squash and gourds, acorns , walnuts, candy corn . ok haha, so candy corn isn't really vegetation, but they always come seasonally during this time of year lol.

ahh candy corn, one of the sweetest gifts of fall. when i was little, i had a candy corn party with all of my friends. good times, good times xD. i have to say that out of all of the variations, my favorite type is the original candy corn flavor. so good!

these are exacltly what the leaves look like here in california! as you can see, none of them are the same, but all are beautifully unique. and everyone should expirience jumping into a pile of leaves at least once in their lives! plus, its a great incentive for cleaning out the backyard. ;) and personally i leave a little extra leaves out in the front yard for color and eye catching appeal. i think fall leaves really capture the spirit of the season...