Some Summer Favorites

I've been seeing this post everywhere and I just wanted to let you all know a couple of products that I constantly reach for this summer!



1) Revlon Age Defying Moisturizing Concealer in medium: I don't like using foundation anyways and this concealer is just so nice and smooth. Best part is that it's moisturizing and a bonus- SPF 25 baby!!

2) Revlon's Super Lustrous Lip gloss in Life's A Peach: First, just wanna mention the SPF... second, just want to point out the awesome moisturizing ability! Third, just wanted to tell you about the shine quality, staying power, and really pretty color!!!

3) Wet N' Wild's Spotlight Peach: I don't know if this is discontinued or not but I LOVE this color! I makes me look healthy but in a "I've been in the sun all day" kinda blush! Which is just perfect for summer I think!! I've had this blush since 2009 and it is still not going away!!! And I swear, I use it everyday for summer for past two years! It's crazy.



4) Bath and Body Work's scent for the summer: Bali Mango Fragrance Mist. OMG- even though I already have a ton of body spray that I need to use up... I just couldn't pass this up. It smells so nice, sweet and just like a the perfect SUMMER. YES, it smells like "the perfect summer". Haha!!




5) Eye brightening colors - I put these shades all over my lids with some black eyeliner and I just find that it is such a good look for summer. Very shimmery, very pretty but classy and simple at the same time. Those are my three favorite shades to do that look with.

Ulta's Rose Dusk is definitely the coolest of them all because it has a like a rosy undertone.

CoverGirl's Mink is so pretty because it is the most reflective.

NYX's Champagne is my oldest, most used, and most loved! It's got this gorgeous golden shine.

What are some of your favorites???



♥ It was my birthday on Wednesday! It was very nice. My parents... got me a new purse :) AND a mascara... that I'm kinda excited and yet very scared about!!! LOL!! You'll see.

♥ As a birthday celebration, I went to see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 last night.

Let me just say... I CRIED. I cried 20 minutes into the movie and the tears pretty much just kept coming. I stopped crying in the last 30 mins but it was just... a great ending!

Why people make such a big deal? - honestly, I think we all fell in love with the characters. I met Harry Potter when I was 11 and I just grew in love with his world, his friends, his enemies, his quest - his magical world. It's different than Twilight because it is not just about two people. Harry Potter is about entire world; designed with wild imagination and careful creation, beyond anything I've seen in my generation! And each book contain these epic adventures that eventually tie together into a beautiful conclusion. I think I cried, even though I know what will happen, because I feel like my magical adventure is coming to an end as well. Most of all, I feet for these characters - The Weasleys, Harry, Hermione, Snape, Neville, Malfoy... all of them!

And for those of you who aren't really fans of the book or of the movies, just go see it - it's got fantastic filming... and Snape scenes are just amazing!

Although, I don't really give a crap about Ginny... haha

Possibly The Best Haul EVER!

I haven't hauled like this in forever but I just went crazy this weekend!!! Most of it was on sale and I got pretty sweet deals too... so let's just get started! YES, I'm very excited about what I got.

First off, I have been meaning to get a new pair of sun glasses for weeks now! My favorite pair of sun glasses broke a few months ago and I've been wearing this other pair that just doesn't look that great. I have been searching high and low for a new pair that looked like my old ones but, truth be told, that last pair was just too perfect to replace. But I think I found something pretty close!

At the same place I found these sun glasses, I also picked up a new wallet. I first saw this wallet and thought it looked really good... but it was $12.50 and I just thought I could find better ones for less. But today I just gave in to temptation... and turned out that wallet was on sale! YES - on sale for $5!!! WHAT? Hahaha I was so happy!!! To quote JLo- "I'm lucky like a four leaf clover"... haha


Charlotte Russe


What do you think?

On Saturday, I went to Ulta because I received the coupon for $3.50 off $10 purchase. I saw that the Ulta brand was having a sale and wanted to check it out.

NOW... you guys... I really really recommend you going to Ulta and check out some of those products!!! Especially the Automatic Eye Pencil and single shadows!!! I was swatching the eye shadows for like 30 mins because I couldn't decide what to get! They had many options and I would've gotten so many but I had to control myself... haha

I also got a new mascara - L'Oreal's Voluminous Naturale in Blackest Black --> possibly of the my favorite mascara EVER!


Liner- $1 in charcoal; Single Shadows- $2 each; Top: Rose Dusk, Bottom: Eggplant

By the way, that liner is FANTASTIC! Way better than Revlon's Colorstay because it is long lasting but goes on very creamy! I think I might go back to grab a few more since it is only $1!!! And for those of you who LOVE eye shadows, please go check out there single shadows collection. The greatest thing about Ulta brand make up is that you get to try it out and swatch the colors before you buy.

Anyways, I am so happy about my purchases overall!!

What have you guys been hauling?? Please share!!



♥ My Bday is next week!!!!! UGH I don't like getting older... But I did get a cute dress to wear to it! HAUL HAUL HAUL - that's all I did this weekend - I swear.

♥ I got complimented on my eye make up today - woot woot

♥ New dislike: Product placement (OBVIOUS ones) in music videos... who here agrees w/ me?

♥ I got me new sun glasses & wallet ---- the only thing I need now is a new purse... anyone know a good place for a cheap (less than $30) bag???

Miss USA Inspired

I haven't tried any smokey eye looks lately but after watching Miss USA a couple of weeks ago, I was inspired to do something like that!

FYI- I don't really watch Miss USA - I just happened to came across it and... strangely wanted to watch the entire ending b/c of their make up! Haha... they had on the prettiest eye looks and I was enchanted by that!!! WEIRD huh! But anyways, I did the best I could... so... ENJOY!











I didn't use that many products. I just have CG's Mink all over the lids to give that sparkly look. Then I put the bronzy shade from Natural Smokes quad into the crease. And finally deepened the outer V w/ the darkest brown shade in that quad. Lined my eyes w/ Physician's Formula's gel liner (which I will do a review soon!) on the top and bottom lash lines!

I wanted to add the sparkle onto my cheeks so I used Physician's Formula highlighter! Overall, it is a pretty dramatic look and I think it turned out pretty good. I might've changed the outer V a little bit... but I think it is very nice for a smokey look to go out and dance the night away!



♥ So what's new w/ you all???
♥ I've been away for too long :P but I do have something to show you! It will SHOCK you!

I saw... the Duke and Dutchess of Cambridge!!! YUP - Prince William and Kate Middleton when they visited Canada for Canada Day!



Besides that I've been working and just enjoying my summer... reading and watching movies and hanging out with friends! You know, the usual!

♥ I've also been HAULING!!! WOO HOO :) I will be doing a post on it soon... see you all then

100 Things: 26-30

26) Inside jokes


27) Desserts


28) Retail Therapy


29) Vacation


30) Happy Hour


♥ ♥ ♥


So lately, I've been wanting to experiment with nail colors. I wanted to combine a couple of colors to make like a splatter type design but it FAILED miserably!!! Haha. I hope you guys enjoyed more of my favorite things.

I gotta say, I'm not a big fan of Applebee's food but their drinks are delicious!! Go for Happy Hour - 1/2 off all drinks. I went twice - once I got the frozen strawberry margarita. Another time I got their White Peach Sangria - DELISH!!

My Life For The Last 2 Months

So I haven't been updating my blog at all for the last two months. What's worse is that I haven't been ON any make up sites, blog sites or anything like that at all for the last two months!

What happened?

Haha - life happened I guess.

Mostly school happened - school happened HARD! I didn't do very well as I would've hoped this semester. My GPA dropped a bit but I'm hoping to learn from my mistakes this year and do better next year. I think I was just really burned out and didn't have the mentally to keep focus and retain information like I usually do. It is tough to study for exams when you haven't really been mentally there!!!

But at least this year has been pretty exciting b/c I made some great new friends ships and I have been doing a lot more things I haven't done before. Such as WINE TASTING!!!


Wilcox, Arizona - Wine Country

It was so much fun to take a mini-road trip but besides that, I realize I'm not a big fan of wine so much.

We also got a couple of birthdays and graduations to celebrate so that took a lot out of my time planning and everything.


That was a birthday dinner at a really awesome Chinese restaurant

Afterward, we karaoke!!!

I'm also extremely BROKE!! I got an internship that will give me some sorta spending money this summer - but I've decided to save most of it for future trips and travels (Las Vegas and New Orleans). This is why I haven't bought any new make up in MONTHS! This is good though because it will allow me to use up what I have and be more creative with it.

All in all, I've just been experiencing different adventures and had to neglect others. Still, I want to return to blogging because I really miss you all and miss playing around with and talking about make up!

I have only recently gotten back to playing around with make up and offering to do make up on anyone that asks!!!! My sister... mostly :( haha!!!

So I hope you guys will come back to read some more of what's coming up next.

Versatile Blogger Award

I was given the Versatile Blogger Award from Yummy411 and Morenita!! Yay :) Thanks guys! Please visit their blogs because they are both very informative and fill with BEAUTILIOUS stuff.



The rules for these awards are:

*Thank the person who gave you the award and link back to them in your post.
*Tell us 7 things about yourself.

*Award 15 recently discovered new bloggers.

*Contact these bloggers and let them know they've received the award(s).

---- Seven Things:
1) I love fortune cookie fortunes - sometimes you get bad ones but when you get good ones, it's pretty awesome - makes my day. The last one I got said something like:

"A pleasant surprise will happen soon--" in bed... ha ha jk jk!

2) I can't play sports but I want to be a better tennis player. I try to go every week!

3) I used to be able to write HTML codes pretty well - I knew what .cgi and .shtml and .php was. Yup I have always had a website from when I was 13 to now. Now, I'm more chill with it - I just use blogspot - but back in the day... oh man... I was quite a master at web design!

4) I don't know what my favorite movie is but my favorite chick flick is probably "The Holiday" followed by "She's The Man" ha ha

5) I LOVE anything potato - fries, hash brown, tater tots, mash potatoes... YUM!

6) I was born in Vietnam and moved to America when I was 8 - although people always comment on my lack of accent. That's good I guess.

7) I really wish I could read more often!! I miss books - weird huh.

---- I want to award this to everyone who has a blogspot! It takes a lot to write/update a blog so I think you guys all deserve it. Of course, I'll try to narrow it down to a few websites that I have always enjoyed reading:

Angelic Betrayal
In Her Makeup Bag
Maquilagem Masstige
Everyday Makeup
Ahleessa 4 Realz
Amynaree
Confessions of a Beauty Guru
Mocha Mish Mash
Pretty Much Makeup
Shop N Chomp

Okay - I'm suppose to do 15... but I don't have time to find more!! Enjoy the award :) You guys are awesome.

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY (early)




So what do you guys think of these "anti-Valentine's" people? I remember when I was in Middle School, during Valentines day - a few of my teachers would wear "Anti-Valentine's Day" T-shirts. I am sure they all have husbands but I think they believe, as some others do, that Valentine's Day is a corporate Holiday and a day that makes all singletons feel bad! In some ways I agree - being single and all - can't really celebrate it like how it's meant to be celebrated. Still, I think the act and emotions of being in love is worth a day of celebration! I've had my share of heartbreaks and disappointment, the pangs of love you might say, and yet I still support this holiday wholeheartedly!

So I say to all you couples: I'm jealous of you guys but I wish you guys the greatest happiness - and enjoy your day :)

And to your singles out there: No need to sulk - spend the day with people you love or do something that you love. Just know that your day will come - keep your heart and mind open :)


"A course of true love never did run smooth" - William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream

"If music be the food of love, play on" - William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night


Me? I have an exam on Tuesday at 1PM so I'll be studying on Monday! Sad you say? Well - that's life I guess ;-p But don't worry - I had a mini celebration w/ mah girls already!!

Have a great day, thanks for reading this non beauty related post

Drugstore Look-a-Likes

When I look at some of the products I have purchased/swapped over the years, I have to say that, when it comes to eye shadows, I'm in love with 2 types of colors: bronze and taupe!! What I love love about these shades is that I can just swipe the color on my lid, liner, mascara, and I'M DONE!!!! No fussing about outer corner or crease shades or blending.

So I decided to pull out my collection and swatch them to see how similar the colors are. Have I been wasting my money on the same exact shades?!?! Or are there slight differences to them that I can detect.

Bronze:


1) ELF's Butternut quad
2) Revlon's Coffee Bean quad
3) Cover Girl's single in Swiss Chocolate


My favorite to wear is the Revlon one because it is so soft and easy to apply! I feel like I always get compliments when I wear this. I recently got CG Swiss Chocolate from a swap and already really enjoy it! It is also really soft and pigmented! I love it. Now, the ELF one is not as soft but still just as pigmented and it is one of my oldest shadows. All three are extremely easy to blend and looks great in the crease as well as all over the lid!

Taupe:



1) Maybelline single in Beach Blush
2) Cover Girl's single in Tapestry Taupe
3) Wet n Wild trio in Silent Treatment
4) L'Oreal's HiP in Sassy
5) Wet n Wild trio in Mojave Mauves


Let's see, I would say that the best texture and pigmentation would be the Wet N' Wild shadows and the L'Oreal HiP. The cool thing about L'Oreal's shadow is that it is a good dupe for MAC's Satin Taupe. However, I find it a bit dark for everyday wear. Sometimes, it is easy for me to go smokey with this if I'm not careful. However, the WnW ones are amazing! I swear, Mojave Mauves is one of my favorite trios ever and that taupe shadow is probably most worn. Of course, CG's shadow is quite popular and it is a really cool taupe because it is more silvery taupe. Very cool! I don't like the texture that much - it can cause a lot of fallout as well. WnW's Silent Treatment is also a silvery taupe. Finally, the Maybelline single is really cool - texture isn't as good as I would've hoped - but I still love the color and it really brings out the brown of my eyes. Very interesting indeed! These are really fun to have - taupes are a lot prettier than regular brown, IMO. These are extremely easy to wear! One swipe on the lids and I'm done w/ my eye shadow look.

So, what do you guys think? What color do you guys tend to buy?

I also just realize I have a lot of matte dark brown shades too... but I guess I can save that for another time. ALso - the swatches show how dry my skin was... GROSS!

♥ ♥ ♥

I went to see No Strings Attached with a friend yesterday...




and I thought it was cute -- but really cheesy!!! Ha ha but I think it's kinda good timing for this movie since Valentines day is right around the corner. It's good for couples and singles to go and watch :)

I think Natalie Portman is freaking awesome and she is a great actress. However, I hope she does more amazing films.

BTW - Natalie Portman and Alicia Keys are two women I really want to be like. Their make up and clothing styles aside, they are both extremely talented and really smart and just fantastic at what they do! They live life under pressure and fame but doesn't succumb to all that crap. Very admirable indeed.

Winter Casual

Hmmmm tonight is OFFICIALLY my last night of Winter Vacation.

I know, some of you would think: Jeez - you're still on your Winter Break? Yes, it is true.

Because of the shooting on Saturday in my hometown, President Obama made a visit to our campus today. I went to hear him talk and it was a moving experience. I def. teared up a couple of times.

Ugh... it's just so sad!!

Anyways, I just wanted to show you guys a few picture of a look I did awhile back. This is what I call: Winter Casual.






* Eyes:
- lids: MAC Trax
- crease: MAC Sketch (a little bit)
- lips: Rimmel Moisture Extreme in Dusty Rose



♥ Went and got Wnw Silent Treatment for $1.50! W00t.
♥ Went hiking with my friends yesterday - DANG - what a work out - DANG - how out of shape am I??
♥ Felt pretty horrible/nauseous the other night... that was bad.
♥ School starts tomorrow... sad sad! Can't wait for Spring Break!
♥ Great - looking for a job AGAIN! Hate doing that b/c it is just so hard to find anything these days. Please comment for suggestion and advice. I'm looking for pretty much any place.
♥ Trying to make this blog into more than just a make up blog... I'm still a complete no0b about it (does anyone still use n00b anymore?)




Learn how to win a gift card from Apothica by entering Gaby's Giveaway

Bring In 2011 With A Haul

I just wanted to show you guys a few things I picked up here and there - kinda a personal mini celebration to the new year... type thing...

Okay, ha ha so I don't exactly have a reason for this haul except for my pure JOY and necessary but whatever. I started this haul mid December to early January. Here goes:



1) Maybelline Colorsensational Lipstick in Warm Me Up:
- Finally! Finally I got one!! I will have to do a Product Battle with this and the Revlon Colorburst lippies. So far - I LOVE the color but hate that it is kinda drying.

2) Wet n' Wild's Coloricon brow and eyeliner in Taupe:
- LOVE this stuff!! This is my 2nd pencil. They've gone and redone this pencil but the color is the same. I noticed that this one is a bit more pigmented than the other one so I don't need as much. And I find that it stays on longer than the old one. Way to go on the reformulation WnW!

3) Jordana Incolor Fabuliner in Black:
- It's one of those liquid pens. I have been wanting to try out liquid eyeliners but I just did not enjoy my last experience w/ liquid eyeliners so I figured I'd go pen form. See how this one plays out. So far - LOVING IT!! REVIEW SOON :)

4) Maybelline's Oil Free Eye Make Up Remover:
- Not my favorite but since I got it for free - I'm not gonna complain. I wouldn't recommend this for anyone else really - well, unless you got it for free, like me.

5) Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion:
- So I have major sensitive yet dry skin and this is like the perfect lotion for me. I think this is pretty much my Holy Grail. I've tried a bunch of other lotions but this is probably the best.

6) Victoria Secret's Fragrance Mist in Peony Freesia:
- This is overall my favorite purchase. I have been reaching for this all the time! It's like a body spray but it lasts longer and it is $2.50 at VS... don't know if their semi-annual sale is still going on.

I am definitely not done. Wet N' Wild is 50% off... how am I suppose to resist that?

Have you guys hauled anything AMAZING lately?



So I just wanted to let you guys know - for those of you who follow up with what is going on in the world...

The recent shooting that killed 6 people, including a 9-year-old girl, and wounded many others, including a Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, happened in my hometown. She is still in critical condition. The gunman walked up to her during one of her meet-and-greet events and shot her point-blank. The bullet went through and through... luckily she survived and is now responsive.

It definitely came as a shock to us as a community. I can't believe something like this happened. I just can't believe it hit that close to home. I live 30-40 mins away from the place but I have friends who live 5 minutes from that place. I have met the Congresswoman, watched her debate, and voted for her.

My heart goes to the family who have lost loved ones - especially the little girl who still had so much life to live.

In time of crisis, we must learn to support each other. No more hate - we can't afford to shed anymore innocent blood.

2011 IS HERE!!

Hooray - we have made it!!!!!!!

2010:
- You've treated me so well with all the new people I've met
- You've reunited me and my extended family - I felt like my heart grew twice it's size since hanging out with my cousins - they just make me feel so happy :) So glad to get to hang out with them for two weeks
- You've given me tons of opportunities (of course you've taken some away... but those were not biggies!)
- You've opened my eyes to so many new experiences and friendships

2011:
- I don't ask very much from you
- Please just give me and my family health and happiness
- Please let me go visit my cousins in Canada!!!
- Please don't make school too hard
- Please allow me to experience more new things and meet more new people
- Please let me be more involved with my community and school

* * *

So I always have New Year resolutions but this year I just feel like my I need to just work on myself:

- Hold on to those strong friendships and make lots of new great ones
- Stop being such a procrastinator
- Be fearless and find courage - try new things

* * *

I think I might've had one of the best Winter Break ever! I'm sure there were some good ones but this is probably the best in YEARS.

My cousins came to visit and, you have to know, I was SOOOOO nervous!! I haven't seen one of them in 2 years and we didn't even talk that much when we last met. The other ones, I haven't met in 16-17 years! Yeah, INSANE right. So I was SOO scared... but I guess the family gene helped us become compatible because we got a long so well...

Too well... because now I'm really really sad that they are gone. Yes, I feel "homesick" in a way. You know - when you say bye to your family - you get that sadness... well that's how I feel!


* * *






How was your vacation??? Please let me know.

PS. Time to go do some post Xmas shopping - crazy sales I tell you~