cookies

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

F A S H I O N // D E S E R T Q U E E N










Don't follow her to the desert
She'll be your Queen
Reigning over nothingness
And everything in between

Can't trust a girl 
When you can't see her eyes
Lift up her crown
You'll be wishing you were free in the skies

Unless you're really curious
You'll only find her tar black soul
Hallow with envy 
Vying for control

Leave the desert while you can
Or else you'll be a two person clan

crown // DIY
dress // forever 21
heels // unif
flowers // hobby lobby

pc: @awcandid



Hair Color:

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

F A S H I O N // C I T Y H O O K E R










Here in this city
Nobody knows me
And I can be anything
From a straight high roller
To a homeless person on the streets
I'm multifaceted
Constantly changing guise
I play each city
Calling each one my home
From Los Angeles
To Las Vegas
So you'll never know
where I truly belong

sun // burberry
lips // bobbi brown
plaid // h&m
coat // forever 21
boots // guess

pc: bearahlee

Friday, October 23, 2015

F A S H I O N // Propaganda















Freedom is a fickle thing.
Freedom to speak.
Freedom to live.
Freedom to create.
Freedom to be.
These are all the freedoms I can't live without.
I'd keep fighting
with my last dying breath
to be free

Top // Brandy Melville
Jeans // H&M
Boots // Steve Madden
Necklace // Hot Topic
DIY Flower Eye // https://youtu.be/snzT3Dy8EUg

pc: @awcandid

Check out the video below of how I created my face


Thursday, October 22, 2015

H A I R // Manic Panic Hot Hot Pink Review

If you've followed my blog for the last few years, you know I've used a variety of other pink dyes. Why it took me so long to finally use Manic Panic is beyond me and I've become a loyal user for almost a year. I can't stress to you how much I love this product overall. But let's specifically talk about Hot Hot Pink.



When I first had it in my hair, it was definitely a hot pink with blue undertones. I thought it was going to be a pink with more orange/peachy undertones. But after further research, I realized the color I thought it would be was made after mixing it with the Flamingo Pink. Nonetheless, this pink overall is fantastic. Probably because I've washed my hair a lot less so it seems like the vibrance of the color lasts much longer. But I've also noticed that it fades out better than Vampire Red. Even though most of the Manic Panic colors come out unevenly, the hair towards my roots is more uneven than the other parts of my hair. Like usually the hair on the bottom half of my head comes out more unevenly than the top part. Whereas the red came out more unevenly towards the bottom rather than the top.

Compared to other pinks this one has definitely lasted the longest and most even when applying. I love the color as it's fading out and I don't have blond patches throughout my hair (which the ion color brilliance and color jams would do after 2 weeks of washing).

One thing I'm not too fond of the manic panic is that it purposely bleeds. Supposedly so that it comes out so you can change the colors often. However, I did not find that the Atomic Turquoise bled as much as the lighter colors (red and pink). I'm not sure if it was because I had already mixed Atomic Turquoise with the pastelizer so it was already bound to lighten up faster but I just thought it was weird. I have been looking into Arctic Fox because it comes with more in the bottle and it doesn't bleed as much. I still have two sets of colors I'm itching to use so that transition probably won't happen for another couple of months.

Stay colorful.
xx

Buy:



Wednesday, October 7, 2015

F A S H I O N // Holy gh0st











She lurks in cemeteries
and dark corridors
If you follow her
You don't know where you'll end up
Dead or alive
She likes you either way
Tell her your secrets
And she may take them to the grave
She steals wild flowers
Only faking to be brave
You can always trust a girl
With pink. long. hair.

Lips // Rimmel London - Bordeaux
Necklace // Forever 21
Dress // Brandy Melville
Jacket // Zara
Shoes // Tillys

pc: @awcandid

Wednesday, September 30, 2015

F A S H I O N // Still Summer













Here in Socal
Summer is relentless
Never letting off heat
And lasting forever
Summer in Socal
The sun always shines
With our sun kissed skin
And bright colored eyes
Only in Socal
Summer is relentless
Never letting Fall pass
Who knows if Winter will ever come

Hair // Manic Panic
Lips // Bobbi Brown
Face // Laniege
Eyes // Smashbox/MAC/Urban Decay
Sunglasses // Target
Top // Styles for Less
Shorts // Forever 21
Sneakers // Chuck Taylor

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

F A S H I O N // So Pink







pc: @a.w.candid

Back to pink dye in my hair and pink shoes on my feet.
And don't forget all the pinks in between.
Normally I wouldn't be caught dead with those rolls
But I'm trying to take a different outlook
I'll wear whatever I want
without your disapproving looks
Yes, I'm wearing pink on pink on pink
And I don't give one stink

Hair // Manic Panic - Hot Hot Pink
Sunnies // Target
Face // Laniege
Lips // Bobbi Brown
Eyes // MAC/Smashbox/Urban Decay
Tank // Foreign Exchange
Pants // Vintage Michael Kors
Shoes // Unif - Hellbound

Sunday, September 13, 2015

L I V I N G // Things from Trader Joe's I can't live without

Someone recently asked me about some healthy, easy recipes and I couldn't think of any particular recipe that didn't require much time and effort, but I did happen to think of things from Trader Joe's that I can't live without. These also helped me get through my college years.

Full Meals:

1. Soy Chorizo.

Yes other stores have this but this one is so inexpensive and it's actually vegan. I still prefer it before it went vegan friendly, but it still tastes pretty good. I enjoy this mixed with my scrambled eggs.  Trust me, it's pretty freakin good. Approx cook time, 6 - 10 min, depending on how you like your eggs.

2. Polenta.

Where has this product been my whole life?! Approx cook time, 8-10 min. I like cooking it until it's crispy and the first time I was introduced to this, my friend told me to fry it on a pan with butter then add bruschetta and parmesan cheese. Mm hmm. So good. The packaging suggests to cook the polenta first then add your toppings, then throw that all in the microwave, but since I avoid microwaves, I add all the toppings after the first flip. You might lose some crispness to it but trust me, you want to avoid the microwave.

3. Pre-made salads.

Yes, it would be way cheaper to make your own salad, but this requires no prep or cooking, so all you have to do is mix in your parmesan cheese, croutons, and dressing, and you're set to go (at least for the caesar salad one).

4. Quiches.

These frozen quiches come in a variety of flavors and are individually packed. Great thing about these is no prepping! Downside is it takes 35-45 min if you're cooking it in an oven. I used to throw it in the microwave and then broil it in a toaster oven, but like I said, NO MICROWAVING! It literally kills your food.

5. Roast Beef.

Unfortunately there are two kinds of roast beef here, but the one I particularly like is the one in the squarer package (I know so descriptive). I like this one because it's hearty and doesn't have a lot of extra ingredients to make it look like roast beef. Tastes great with any bread, mayo, mustard, tomatoes, and spinach. Prep time, approx 5 - 10 min.

Snack Options/Sides:

6. Jackfruit chips.

I personally don't care for eating fresh jackfruit, but I do like the jackfruit chips. Yes they're a bit pricey but this fruit is really expensive. Each package is about 2 servings so you can probably finish the bag in one sitting.

7. Vanilla Yogurt.

Yes their brand of Vanilla yogurt tastes really good to me. I normally don't care for flavored yogurts, but this one is an exception.

8. Brown Rice.

There are two kinds of brown rice here, one that states organic and the other not so much. The organic one is in a darker green box and the non-organic one is in the lighter green box. I didn't care for the organic one, but I must say the non-organic one is super tasty for brown rice. It's moist, flavorful, and easy to cook. Stick it on a sauce pan and stir it every so often. Approx cook time, 8 - 10 min. It's a great side to eat with a protein and veggies.

9. Mochi Ice Cream.

Tell me why mochi ice cream is the cheapest price here by far. All the other grocery stores are always 5.99 and up, and I think Ralph's sold it at $7.99. Even compared to the asian super markets, mochi is still cheaper at trader joe's. Not a fan of mochi myself, but for my family, this is a must. Cheapest price thus far.

That wraps this up. I'll update this if there is any other things that come to mind.

Friday, September 11, 2015

B E A U T Y // MICA Beauty Cosmetics | Eye Primer Review

Image Courtesy of Ipsy

This eye primer claims to do the following "MicaBeauty Eye Primer is perfect for everything from sealing in eye shadows and foundation, to enhancing your all-day look. Go from shimmer to matte in just seconds. This waterproof formula provides the perfect foundation for a long-lasting, smudge proof look that is designed for your active lifestyle. This eye primer helps even out skin tone as well as extending and intensifying your mineral eye shadows, without creasing, smearing, or fading." (Source: Ipsy).

I have tried to see if it was me but it seems this doesn't work on my eyes. I've gone 10+ hours with this and it does eventually crease/smear/fade. No I have not applied eyeshadow first then applied the primer (as it says above) but I don't know why you would want to do that. If I had to pick an eye primer, I would pick the Urban Decay Primer Potion every time. That usually lasts me all night and I can sleep on it and my make up will still be in tact. I'm guessing it might because it's summer so it melts faster? We'll see what happens in the winter. Check out the video below to see what I'm talking about.


On a separate occasion, aside from the video above. I put on a minimal amount and it seemed to last. -_-
It's really a finicky product. Then again, I stayed inside all day and had the AC on. But on most occasions, it usually comes off within a few hours. Wouldn't buy it if I had the choice of choosing products, but if you're really interested, here's a link to the product: Micabeauty Eye Primer, 8.3 Gram

Thursday, September 10, 2015

Grey's Anatomy Season 11

I just finished binging the last season of Grey's Anatomy. This was the most heartbreaking season I have ever watched. I'm warning you now, there will be a ton of spoilers if you haven't watched it already, but I just need to vent to the world how I feel about this season.

I absolutely love Amelia's character on the show. I love how Private Practice weaved back into Grey's Anatomy. Shonda is absolutely brilliant. Amelia's character deserves to be on the show and it's nice to see a familiar face rather than the new residents they bring in every year. I like how Shonda brings real information into the show, especially during Dr. Herman's surgery where Amelia and Edwards were doing the super hero pose right before the surgery. It is scientifically proven, so ladies and gentlemen, you should do it. I'm so glad she didn't relapse back into her habits regardless of all the stuff she went through this episode. I would almost equate it to losing her boyfriend and baby (maybe not to that extreme), but Amelia's had a pretty tough life. Props to her for sticking through it.

I also love how Meredith had another half sister (Maggie), that was even more brilliant. Bringing in all these elements and stories that we never saw the full picture was freakin amazingly brilliant. Of course Richard Weber and Ellis Grey had a child. It would only be stupid if they didn't. I didn't feel they concluded her issue with leaving very well. One episode she was leaving and the next she's not. I mean I get that Meredith presented her with all the notebooks, but it wasn't like officially announced she changed her mind and decided not to leave. Nonetheless, I'm happy about Maggie's addition to the show.

Edwards was great. I loved her believing in Amelia and I love her addition to the show. Her presence isn't whiney nor complaining, but simply trying to be amazing. I didn't like how Amelia kept disrespecting her though, regardless of whatever Amelia was going through. See, that's why she was such a jerk to the new residents. My favorite line, "Heel ducklings, heel." Priceless.

First Jackson and April's baby died (cried from that episode), then Derek died (bawled my freakin eyes out). I still don't think Derek should have died. I absolutely think Shonda could have made their relationship work, unless she's saying in the near future Meredith would have found out that Derek technically cheated and then that would destroy her. I think either way it would have destroyed her, but I seriously cried so much the last 6-7 episodes because of Derek's death. It was heart wrenching and awful and I still can't believe he was killed off.

I was freaking out when Meredith was pregnant and was afraid she was going to give up the baby for adoption like her mom. I was like NOOO that's a part of Derek! Don't let her go! But fortunately baby Ellis is still with mom.

It almost came full circle with Meredith leaving with the kids and now coming back to the house her mom left and Meredith is once again returning. I have no idea what Arizona's new situation will be like once Meredith moves back in, but I'm sure Meredith wouldn't mind having her there.

One of the issues I don't like about this show is how easily people move on. I mean in the sense that they move on from lover to lover. I mean obviously time has passed and I really don't have a sense of how many months/years have occurred since separation but geez. It also makes me question whether a person really is your true love and whether there are multiple people there out for you. Like Meredith said, "I can live without you, but I don't want to." So that wanting to make it work with that one person will sustain you, but yes there are multiple possibilities that your love life could take you. It's just all so confusing.

I don't think Catherine Avery and Dr. Webber's love life is compelling. I didn't think it was necessary but definitely tied in to the theme of this season. April and Jackson are a lost cause. On another note, the same time I hate the ease of people moving on quickly, I LIKE how they can make long distance relationships work (well sort of). It almost worked, and could work. Either way, point is, we want to make our loved ones feel happy and excel at what they do, but I think April was selfish and she should have considered Jackson's feelings and maybe at least asked him to come along so he wouldn't feel left behind. That would make more sense.

I'm excited for the new season. I'm glad Meredith took Maggie in, and that the three sisters are all living in the house. I think it's wonderful that Shonda is centering around this whole idea of family and love, when Meredith didn't start out with either of those. New season is coming soon. :D

Friday, September 4, 2015

B E A U T Y // Ocean Salt Face/Body Scrub | Lush

Current favorite scrub. I love the way my face feels after using the scrub. It's super soft and supposedly it will help blackheads. I haven't used it enough to actually get this result but I really hope this improves my blackheads. Honestly, I just like it a lot because it's blue and it looks pretty.

Image via Lush USA

Image via storagegeek.tumblr.com

Thursday, September 3, 2015

H A I R // What Wearing a Wig Really Feels Like

I wore my wig out for the for time last week. It was mystical and magical in the sense I felt like a completely different person. Here's a breakdown of what you need to do to prepare for wearing a wig.

So the most important thing is finding a wig cap that fits your head and keeps in all the hair tightly. I got a closed cap (http://tinyurl.com/q3reu58) but other people I've looked into have used the open mesh caps (http://tinyurl.com/ngf6b55). I must be uber sensitive to anything that's on my head cause I tend to get headaches from putting my hair in a bun or pony tail for too long, so wearing the wig cap for 8+ hours lead to a definite migraine. I didn't have a plan B for taking off my wig so I stuck through it. It literally felt as if someone was sucking my brains out. Long story short, find a wig cap that fits comfortably.

Secondly, depending on the type of wig, you have to make it look natural. I have a lace front wig that doesn't part, so I was trying to do everything I could without cutting off too much lace and hiding whatever lace was left. I tried creating fake bangs with the hairs to give myself a part and hide the lace and that worked (mostly). Downside, I had to constantly adjust the hair because it was so long. I read later that you can take a blow dryer to heat the hair to the part you like and pull the hairs out to create a part. I'm too scared to do that so I guess I'll stick with my current methods, but I'll definitely have to pull some hairs out for my pink wig since the hair line doesn't match my hair at all.

This has been my experience so far and I will update you as I get more practice. Please feel free to give advice and tips!

xx

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

M U S I C // Lights | Little Machines Tour

I've listened to lights for at least 5-6 years now. I think the last time I saw her was in 2009, or maybe 2010. It was 2010! I just looked it up. She toured with Owl City and so I had intended to see Owl City but I ended up being super pumped about Lights. I loved The Listening. It was my first introduction to electro-pop and it was such a new genre for me I was so entranced by it. Anyway, I remember waiting in line for that tour at the Nokia theater since about 2pm. I was probably the 6th or 7th person in line. Mind you this was my first attempt to wait for the front of the stage, so I was totally new at it. The worse part about doing this is the waiting. Some people live for this but personally I'd rather go when I feel like it or buy seats to enjoy the show. She was fantastic but during this era of her life, she sang really nasal-y. like almost not real. I'm not sure if that's what she was going for during that time since the songs were more electronic sounding rather than using organic instruments, so that could be why. She definitely could sing normally so I was confused as to why she did that. Either way she sounded good. She was going through the set as she normally did and then some asshole yelled "Valerie!" Something switched in her and she literally walked off the stage after the last song. It was awkward and I didn't know if she had finished her set.

Fast forward a couple years later, I got into 'Toes' and 'Banner', but the Siberia album didn't really stick with me. Until now. Plus every time I went to check whether she was playing, I had literally missed her playing in LA by a few days. I actually got into the Little Machines album and then started going back to the Siberia album. There are some songs I like, but I'd have to say Little Machines is by far her best work. It's beautiful and honest, and it just makes you feel so dang good. So seeing this album in tour was a must for me. This is my second time seeing her, and I must say it seems like she's in a much better place in her life and she's so much more lively. Well at least compared to the last time I saw her. Anyway, I think her singing got better and her stage presence is magnetic. I think it's best to see your favorite musicians in little venues. It's definitely more intimate and she can actually see you from the stage. She had quite a few conversations with the crowd and someone was able to give her a gift. (I mean they do it at Gaga shows, but they have to throw it on stage and run the risk of getting kicked out.) So that was awesome to see. I literally missed touching her hand because I wanted to get it on film. Geez. and then I didn't even capture her in front of me. Sad day. But it was a great show so I guess I can't complain!

Check out my video of her performance.



Buy album: Little Machines

Monday, August 24, 2015

B E A U T Y // I just discovered I have 'Hooded Eyes'

So I recently discovered what my eyebrow shape is called. For those who knew and didn't tell me, shame on you. For those who didn't know either, it's okay! We can work through this together!
I've been doing a bunch of research on what hooded eyes were, these particular videos stuck out to me. I feel a little bit better knowing that this isn't only an asian trait and that other races have this eye feature as well. 


Everything she says in this video, I'm like omg I'm doing it all wrong. I wonder if my eyes look droopy or bad. I've been misled my whole life thinking that shimmery eyeshadow was the way to go. I mean recently I've liked matte eyeshadow because I feel it's more sophisticated but now I realize it would have helped my eye look a lot. I seriously just want to throw out all my make-up because I think there are only a few of them that are actually matte. 




I liked what Wayne said about lifting the eye with the "straight line" trick. I think I might have over done mine but at least in this thumbnail picture there's shimmery eyeshadow on the "mobile lid" with darker/matte shades creating the straight line. I would argue that this eye is not as 'hooded' but it could also just be the make up? I have no idea! So many options that I didn't know were possible before! I gave this technique a go and don't know how I feel about it. I might have done it wrong but who knows? 




In the end, it really doesn't matter how your make up looks, as long as it makes you feel good and you feel confident rocking it. Just thought I'd let you know. :)

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

C L I M B // Tips for your first time Bouldering outdoors!

I've gone bouldering in Hanger 19 and have done "rock climbing" on those climbing walls they have at like festivals and stuff. Truthfully, I have no upper arm strength and do everything I can to build it, but this sport requires a full body workout. No joke. I didn't rely on my legs as much as I should have and forced myself to use my upper body because I was scared shitless of falling and bleeding. I absolutely hate injuries (cuts/scrapes/bruises/you name it) so choosing to partake in this sport outside was less of my brighter ideas. I love the idea of being outdoors and would absolutely do it again. I just need to get over the fear of falling and trust that my body is strong.

It's really hard to get past the idea of being a cramped ass shoe. I don't know how people do it. I originally brought sneakers to go hiking but realistically I would have been happy in sandals. Then again we went during the summer in 100+ weather so of course that sounds like a better idea. I'm sure when Climbing Season comes I'll be more prepared. I love the cold and being able to do this during this season sounds so appealing to me.

Tips:
1. Use whole body.
2. Trust your feet.
3. Use chalk (I have an abnormal fear of chalk so getting past this is a struggle for me).
4. Don't be ashamed to use the vb and v0 climbs. That's all I did all day.
5. If you don't get it the first time, try it again.
6. CUT YOUR FINGER NAILS AND TOE NAILS. (the scraping sounds kill me when I hear it and your feet are gonna be squished into a tiny shoe.
7. Wear movable clothing, but not too lose. Thick sweat pants would probably not help you in this situation.
8. Wear hats, sunglasses, and sunscreen! Protect your eyes and skin!
9. Buy a guide book. It would be pretty silly to not know where your going and helpful to know which routes to climb.
10. Climb in the shade when possible, especially during the summer.
11. HYDRATE
12. Protein up!
13. YOU SHOULD HAVE A CRASH PAD! Dang that sucker really helped me out. We only had one, so I'm sure having multiple would be beneficial.
14. Don't be arrogant. No matter how good you think you are, you need someone to spot you and you should always use that crash pad.
15. Take off climbing shoes between climbs. Your feet will thank you later.
16. Be that awesome person and take pictures for someone else and hopefully they will return the favor.

Friday, August 14, 2015

H A I R // Wigs versus Hair Dye | PowderRoomD Review

I've recently invested in buying wigs since I constantly dye my hair and I thought my hair might fry out so I'll probably need to buy wigs anyway. I bought a Mint and Pink one.
Photo Courtesy of PowderRoomD

Photo Courtesy of PowderRoomD


Now that I own them, I feel there's another host of things you need to do to prep your hair just to wear a wig. I feel like I might as well just dye my hair again (which I planned to anyway). I definitely feel like I can only wear certain wigs during certain hair phases. For instance, right now my roots are going out, so clearly my black hairs are showing. I bought a wig with black roots so it's easier to blend it in with my own hair. I also bought a pink wig without black roots, so I'll probably have to bleach my hair so it doesn't show underneath.

I've also read you have to buy wig tape/glue so your wig stays in place. So I'll probably have to purchase that as well is multiple wig caps because apparently they get stretched out and you'll have to replace it. So whoopee. I know, I'm so enthusiastic these days. I feel I have to work harder to style them cause I think I look funny in them. They are beautiful pieces and I guess it'll just take practice to get used to wearing them and styling them but hopefully it will work out because these babies were expensive! I think this particular pink wig I bought is quite heavy. Unfortunately they don't part as well as I thought they would and I look super funny with the hair being blown back. I should have requested a side part so it looked more natural, but I was already putting out a lot of money just to buy the wig, so I figured I'd suck it up and just get it as is. I'll figure it out eventually. :)

Obviously you get the benefit of not having to retouch the color or washing it (although I think you can wash wigs). So the fading colors is not an issue. I love that I can constantly change my hair color so I like dying my hair because I can do whatever I want with it. But I think having the wig is great too so that way I have perfect hair whenever I want. So I guess it's really a matter of preference.

I bought my wigs from http://www.powderroomd.com and I've also considered buying them from this guy on Instagram https://instagram.com/jamesthegemini/.
PowderRoomD had a sale so I bought those wigs on impulse so it's really a matter of shopping around to get what you want. Good luck!

Must haves for wearing wigs:

Thursday, August 13, 2015

L I V I N G // Being a New Homeowner is Hard

Holy geez it's been over a week since I last posted! I was hoping to do a blog every other day, but I guess this will have to do.

The topic today is being a new homeowner. I never imagined owning my own home or getting into this until I was in my 30s, but here I am still in my 20s and I'm experiencing what it's like to own a new home and going through all the issues that a homeowner might encounter. And I don't even actually own the home. I just hear of the struggles.

Rent/Mortgage Payment: Geez louise. Living in California, finding an affordable place to stay is nearly impossible for someone my age. First off, the minimum wage cannot even allow you to afford a new home, let alone rent for an apartment. I have family who live in other states that can afford buying their own home that would allow them to live in a place without having other people renting the rooms to lower the cost of rent with minimum wage to sustain them. Even with a full-time job in Vegas, you literally have to live pay check to paycheck unless you have a roommate or money saved up to invest in a down payment and stashed up for upcoming payments.

Utilities: I've never really paid my own bills, except for my credit card so knowing I'll have to pay for electricity, gas, water, trash, etc. is overwhelming. I haven't even received my bills yet, but I've literally been doing every precaution I can to help conserve energy/water. I hardly ever get my AC lower than 79 degrees. I tend to stay downstairs where it's cooler (since heat travels up), thus uses less AC. My current place has less square footage to it covers a lot of ground fairly quickly and cools down fast as well. I try to stay in darker parts of the home to keep cool and so far it's working for me. I've literally taken old boiled water and reused it for washing my hands. I know it sounds so cheap but I think you'll understand my weird habits.

Security: I think with every location, you'll be wary of your surroundings. I've just installed a home security system and I have no idea if the cost I invested was worth the money. $54.99/mo for an alarm system seems a bit pricey and I don't know how to go about lowering it since it's on a five year agreement. Brilliant right? And that was to lock in the price which supposedly other competitors will raise their prices by 5%. Who knows. These are sales people we're dealing with.

Internet: I just got the internet installed and it's such a relief to have it. I don't plan on buying cable because majority of the things I watch are through the internet except for Pretty Little Liars and I'm sure I could buy that through amazon or wait for it to come on Netflix. Cheap right? Whatever, I don't care. It's pretty pricey out in Vegas since the competitors aren't out here and it's a developing area. Like wtf is that. $80 for internet. Sheesh. I think it's like $50 in Cali but I guess it's a tradeoff since the homes are cheaper out here.

So far those are the things I've encountered and I'm sure there are more to come. The actual bills haven't come in yet, so I'm bracing myself for those actual costs. Hopefully it won't be too strenuous.

Tuesday, August 4, 2015

T R A V A L // 2 (and a half) Reasons Why you should check out Disneyland's 60th Birthday

1. The new shows are awesome!

I didn't get to see the firework show but I've been told that it was good as well. But between Paint the Night and the World of Color show, I would say Paint the Night should be seen over World of Color. Personally, I like the original World of Color the most be that seriously pulls my heartstrings but this definitely has some appeal as well. Paint the Night is so beautiful and the song choice fits perfectly. I absolutely love the Electrical Light Parade so this definitely pays homage to it and might even outshine the original. The only thing that was really weird for me was Belle's massive dress which they tried to imitate from the Blue Fairy float in the Electrical Parade. They could have done without that because it looked weird and I simply just didn't like it. But everything else was awesome and beautiful! The second show is a lot easier to get seating, so I'd advise going to the second one.

2. It's a once in a life time event!

Yeah I get that Disneyland will always be there, but the specifics of it will never exist again (at least to my knowledge). I don't know if they'll keep the Paint the Night Parade past this year or what will become of it. I would image that they would still use at least the parade because of the amount of engineering and physical pieces that go into a parade rather than a firework show or World of Color. If anything, World of Color, Paint the Night, and the fireworks show are the only things need to be seen and that's all that really matters. The Diamond decorations look pretty cheap look compared to their Halloween/Christmas decorations, like it was the last thing they did when preparing for the Diamond celebration. However, there is constantly new merchandise coming out but I am not sure whether once it's sold out they will replace it. So my tip for most things I buy, if you see something you like, buy it then. You never know if it will be there when you come back.

I really felt like this had 3 reasons but as I'm writing this blog entry, this only came up to two. Well hopefully this gives you enough inventive to check it out and if not find someone who can get you in (employees who work there).

Aside from that, the distinctions between Disneyland and CA Adventure have never been more apparent. I guess this is because this was the first time I actually went to CA Adventure and saw the amount of alcoholic availability there was across the park. I'm not sure if alcohol is served at Mad Tea Party before the shows start, but it's available there as well as Cove Bar and Down in Pacific Wharf. Obviously most of the 60th decorations are in Disneyland since it is celebrating Disneyland but there seemed to be an absence of decorations. If you want to escape the Disneyland crowd, head over to CA Adventure.



Saturday, August 1, 2015

B E A U T Y // Urban Decay | 24/7 Glide On Lip Pencil Primer Review

This product claims "Get primed and ready for action. Urban Decay's long-lasting, waterproof liner glides on smoothly to prime AND define—for long-lasting lip color and clean lines. Smooch. Pout. Smack. Nibble. Lick. 24/7 stays put through everything (yes, EVERYTHING) you do. When you use this liner to fill in your lips completely, it primes them for lipstick or gloss, grabbing on to color to help it last. 
Next, finish the bad girl beautiful look with a sample of Urban Decay's brand new Revolution High-Color Lipgloss—insanely intense color with high shine. The high-coverage, ultra-pigmented formula lays down all the color you crave in one coat. 
This lippie is also laced with Hilurlip™, which defines and hydrates lips while making them look plumper and fuller." (Source: Ipsy).

No I did not get what the product claims above. I had worn the primer with a different brand of lipstick, although I don't think that should effect the longevity of the primer. I used Rimmel London after applying the Lip Primer, and yup, it still came off after eating (and it says it'll stay put through everything....). I'll give this product another try but I doubt I would actually go out to buy it because it didn't work for that one instance I try it. Check out the video below where I did an actual test.


Wednesday, July 29, 2015

F A S H I O N // Victoria's Secret PINK | STRAPPY RACERBACK BIKINI TOP

Photo Courtesy of Victoria's Secret PINK

Why is currently my favorite bathing suit top? Simple. No removable padding.
Holy geez, it's so convenient not having to remove the padding or getting sand in that place that holds the padding. It's perfectly lined and not heavily pushed up so I absolutely love this swim top. I wish they made other prints but I guess one of every style is better than having multiple of one style but then again I have a bunch of bandeaux swim tops. Only con about this is the strappy back, so if you hate tan lines, this top is now for you. I'm sorry I buy things on sale so that this review is late for those you can no longer by this top. But if you're one of the few that have been holding onto this and not sure if you want to keep it, you should keep it! Haha. I got the color in the picture so I lucked out on that since the only color available on the website is like a teal and bright green.

Enjoy the rest of summer! x

Monday, July 27, 2015

F A S H I O N // Issues I have with the standards of Modeling

Growing up was a real struggle for me, especially because modeling was something I was always interested in. The race thing never really bothered me, but the height issue was something that prevented me from achieving this ambition. From the research I've done, majority of women in the US are around 5'5", so why do we have this unrealistic person walking the runway? They are clearly in the tails of the normal distribution, thus the odds of them actually occurring in everyday life is a lot smaller than if someone who is 5'5". Why don't we have people who are shorter walking the runway? Oh because the dresses are made for tall people aka the people wearing them are the only ones who can buy it. I saw a casting call for "No Rest For Bridget" a boutique in Southern California, and the requirements of course were 5'9" and what not. Like what the heck man. I've bought clothes from them and they fit perfectly fine on someone who is 5'2" so why the hell am I not allowed to audition to model for them? It's so unrealistically shitty.

ALSO, being older, the race thing does bother me. Because realistically, what are the odds of someone who is asian being taller than 5'9". Unless you're mixed or have some really good genes, your hopes of modeling and being asian are really slim. Thanks a lot society, you've really ruined my self-esteem.

FORTUNATELY, there are other avenues of "modeling" which can be amateur-ish but at least it gives me something. Thank goodness for Instagram, Youtube, and Lookbook who don't give a rats ass of how tall you are because you just do your own thing.

Thanks for listening to my little rant.

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

F A S H I O N // Spinning









Sometimes all we need are the pretty colors. Round and Round they go. Only at night can we see their true beauty. I want to become one with them. I only want to live in the lights. Can't you see? We are meant to be.


T O P // Brandy Melville
D E N I M // Levi's
S N E A K E R S // Converse
B A G // Thrifted