It's spelled with a "Y"

Review: My experience with YourTea.com Tiny Teatox

noreply@blogger.com (ectini) — Tue, 27 May 2014 04:01:00 +0000

Many of you have probably heard of Your Tea from Instagram. On their IG they post tons of customer photos of people who appear to have lost A LOT of bloat/weight, many claiming after just 7 days! I have to admit, I fell HARD for this hype... So I decided to try it. This was the first teatox I've ever done, so I decided to split a 28 Day teatox with my coworker, so we both did the 14 Day detox.

Claims:
"My intricately balanced herbal blend will nourish and cleanse your digestive system, providing it the support it needs to replenish and restore back to its natural state. This cleanse will assist with reducing weight, easing bloating, increasing digestion functionality, improving skin clarity, increasing energy levels and alleviate issues associated with food intolerances. Formulated with Chinese medicine herbs and based upon Chinese medicinal principles, TinyTea is the only herbal cleanse on the market that does not produce a laxative effect. TinyTea has been created by qualified Chinese Medicine practitioners with considerable years of experience. I contain 42 teabags per box. Each teabag weighs 2.5g."

Ingredients:
oolong tea, jue ming zi, he ye, shan zha, lai fu zi, chen pi, mai ya (not that I know what any of this is)

The 28 Day Tiny Teatox is $55 for 84 teabags, for 3 per day (the 14 day teatox is $35 for 42 teabags). Shipping was $11 and it came within a week. My coworker drank it 3 times a day, and I drank it twice a day. On their box, pamphlet, and website, they are very confusing about how much you are really supposed to drink this tea for it to be effective. On the pamphlet it says 2 times a day, on the site it says 3. Yet on their site it says if it gives you too much energy, you can drink it 2x a day instead of 3. But on their IG they say the pamphlet was a misprint and you're supposed to drink it 3x a day to get the full effects. I found it did give me a bit much energy so I drank one in the morning and one in the early afternoon.

You are supposed to steep this tea for 5-7 min and drink it hot (not cold or iced) before or after a meal, and eat healthy while on it. It is not supposed to have side effects.

Again, this teatox claims to:

reduce weight
ease bloating
increase digestion functionality
improve skin clarity
increase energy levels
alleviate issues associated with food intolerances

Both my coworker and I experienced while on this teatox:

weight gain
increased hunger
increased bloating
constipation
tiredness

We noticed no change in skin clarity or alleviation of lactose intolerance.

I was extremely disappointed in this teatox because it did the absolute OPPOSITE of what it says it's supposed to do. I know everyone is different but I find it strange how me, my coworker, one of my ig friends, and many other people commenting on their instagram had the very same disappointing experience while on this tea!

The first day I drank this tea, it made me jittery and a little nauseous, so that's why I decided to drink it only 2x a day. I honestly don't think it tastes that bad (it tastes just like what you think chinese herbal tea would taste like I guess) but some bags are more bitter than others. For the first week I drank it, I felt more energetic. But after the 2nd week it all went downhill -- I was sluggish, painfully bloated, always hungry, and to top it all off, constipated. My coworker said she felt exactly the same. We thought maybe that's just how it is as the teatox does its work, so we went on to finish the entire box.... sadly nothing changed throughout. We were both constantly hungry and I actually gained a couple pounds while on this teatox... I wanted to do it mainly because I always feel bloated and thought it would help... NOPE, it made me 2x as bloated and I thought I looked pregnant. Also TMI -- We couldn't even poop for days at a time and it was always hard poop :( Eww I know but I gotta say it lol because it really is the exact opposite of what it's supposed to do!

I ate healthy but didn't work out, while my coworker did work out. Yet we still gained weight and were bloated, and a friend of mine on ig also said that normally she loves to work out and already had a flat stomach, but this teatox made her too sluggish to workout and also so bloated she thought looked pregnant too!

After I finished the teatox I felt horrible for about 2 weeks as the effects lingered. So I started making detox water with fruit and it was not even funny how much better I felt!!!

In this collage, the bottom right was how I looked the entire time while on the tiny teatox. The left and top right photos are after I was off it and drinking lime/cucumber/mint water for only 3 days! I was so much less bloated and feeling much less tired and my digestion issues went away. I recently got a Nutribullet for my birthday so I'm working towards a healthier eating plan making my own food and exercising more consistently. No more relying on supposed "miracle" detoxes!

I personally wouldn't do this tea again. I'm not sure if we got a bad batch... maybe they give out expired stock, so that's why our teatox did not work because it was OLD... my mom did insist that my teabags smelled "rancid" to her hmmm.... :/ Overall I wouldn't say don't try it, because it apparently seems to work for many people... but I'll say don't believe all the hype! Make your own detox water, work out, and you'll see better results!

NOTD: Pink & Mint

noreply@blogger.com (ectini) — Thu, 15 May 2014 18:00:00 +0000

I get my nails done by Mymy at

Pageant Nails

235 Waianuenue Ave | Suite 103

Hilo, HI 96720

(808) 935-5888

This is gel over my real nails.

NOTD: Black x Gold Love

noreply@blogger.com (ectini) — Mon, 12 May 2014 21:50:00 +0000

I get my nails done by Mymy at

Pageant Nails

235 Waianuenue Ave | Suite 103

Hilo, HI 96720

(808) 935-5888

This is polish over acrylic base over my real nails.

Product Review: House of Lashes Noir Fairy & Pixie Luxe

noreply@blogger.com (ectini) — Mon, 12 May 2014 21:47:00 +0000

I've purchased lashes from House of Lashes 2 times. I love their Pixie Luxe lashes, but wanted to talk about the inconsistencies of the lashes I've gotten. The first time I purchased one pair of Pixie Luxe ($12) and one pair of Noir Fairy ($16). My friend also purchased a 3-pack of Pixie Luxe. When we compared our pairs, we noticed that her 3-pack all had varying lengths of lashes. My single pair of Pixie Luxe happened to be on the short side, so we opted to trade since I like long lashes and she likes short. This was her longer pair:

Above is the Noir Fairy I received. Note how they are really thick and "heavy" and dramatic. I was really disappointed because I expected them to look like the lashes that they post on their instagram page:

Note how long the Pixie Luxe is. And the Noir Fairy? They are so wispy and pretty in this picture! Mine look nothing like that.

The second time I ordered from HoL, I got a 3-pack of Pixie Luxe. I made a note at checkout that I specifically wanted LONG pairs. But when I got them, just like my friend's 3-pack, all the lashes were of different lengths:

The top box is perfect. The middle box is a little too short for my tastes. And the bottom box is just... can you even call it the same style?? It's half the length that it should be. I honestly felt like I was getting jipped a bit because I pay to get what is pictured: LONG WISPY LASHES. What does that say about quality control when I buy a 3-pack of a specific style and only ONE pair is "right," and the Noir Fairy is totally off?

I contacted HoL and they told me that their lashes are all handmade, so there will be inconsistencies in the lashes, which I understand. What I don't understand is how the lashes I got could pass quality control checks and be sold like this compared to what they advertise on their IG page. I did get sent one pair of Pixie Luxe as compensation and they did say that they were seeing to getting a person to do final quality control checks before the product is sent out, so we'll see what happens.

Overall I think the quality of their lashes is very good, they last the advertised 5-8+ uses on me and the price is great. I just feel that the style inconsistency issue needs to be addressed.

The Rundown:

Packaging: 5/5
Cute boxes made of eco-friendly recycled materials

Product: 3/5
Good quality lashes that last, but the styles are inconsistent

Price: 5/5
Wallet-friendly

Overall:

[ Click here to read about my Review & Rating System ]

Product Overview: Blonde and Pink Wig from eBay

noreply@blogger.com (ectini) — Sun, 11 May 2014 11:18:00 +0000

I bought this wig from ebay seller xiaowuge2012 because I've been wanting to go platinum blonde but wasn't sure how I'd look and if it would match or not! I figured I could get a cheap wig to test out the color. This wig was $6.99 + $9.99 shipping from China. It came pretty fast actually, about 2 weeks to Hawaii (usually I wait around a month to receive packages from China).

This is what the wig in the listing looked like:

I realize mine looks nothing like that lol but I'm not complaining :-P I actually like the platinum blonde of the one I got. However the pink of my wig is more of a bright almost neon pink. I liked the pastel baby pink of the listing photo better. So word of caution - don't rely on the seller's pictures because they're probably not accurate.

This is the first wig I've ever bought so I don't really have anything to compare it to. It seems nice quality. The synthetic hair is soft and silky, but tangles really really easily (is that just how synthetic wigs are?). The price point was great in my opinion, so that's why I got it. Overall I was satisfied with this purchase even though it wasn't the same as the wig in the original listing. I would recommend this seller because of good prices and fast shipping.

For now my dreams of actually going platinum blonde are on hold... not sure if I could handle the process and the maintenance!

FOTD: Inspired by the works of Michael Hussar & Naye0na

noreply@blogger.com (ectini) — Sun, 11 May 2014 10:23:00 +0000

Eyes

Too Faced Shadow Insurance

Tarte Amazonian Clay Brow Mousse - Medium Brown
Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencil - Perversion
Wet N Wild Color Icon Eyeshadow Single - Trashed
NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil - Cottage Cheese
Revlon Colorstay Liquid Eye Pen - Blackest Black
Circle Lenses - Geo Tear Grey
House of Lashes - Noir Fairy

Lips

Maybelline Baby Lips - Grapevine
Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick - Vava Violet
Revlon Colorstay Eyeliner - Black

Face

Neutrogena Shine Control Primer
The Face Shop BB Cream
Dermablend Smooth Indulgence Concealer - Almond
Physician's Formula Super BB Pressed Powder - Light/Medium
ELF Studio Blush - Berry Merry

This look was inspired by:

http://instagram.com/naye0na#

http://instagram.com/michael_hussar#

Review: Whipped Cream Clay from Sophie & Toffee

noreply@blogger.com (ectini) — Sat, 22 Mar 2014 06:33:00 +0000

White & Pastel Pink, Piping Tips, & Fake Sugar Sprinkles

Price: SGD 12.14 (approx $9.53 USD)

Availability: buy here

About the product:

This is new generation whipped cream which is 100% environmental friendly with no harmful vapors.
It has a slight fruity scent which is similar to our deco sauces.
This type of whipped is more flexible and elastic and finished with a gloss.
It is also easier to squeeze as compared to other fake whipped cream product which comes in a tube.
You can easily attached our piping tips and it is ready to use!
Each 100g comes with FREE 4 piping tips (randomly chosen).
Colors: white, chocolate, lilac, blueberry, raspberry, peach, pastel pink, strawberry

Thoughts:

I was super excited when Sophie & Toffee contacted me to try out this product because I'm continuously looking for new whipped cream materials to try! I have never used the clay type before, so this was my first one. I was also really interested because they said it did not have the harsh scent that most (if not all) silicone caulking has. I had to take a break from making whipped cream cases because the silicone fumes were aggravating my allergies, and adding to these headaches I was having :( So to hear that these clay whipped creams have a nice scent was awesome! It smells like vanilla-coconut!

They come in 100ml tubes, and you can screw their inexpensive piping tips right onto the tube. This is very convenient because you don't have to worry about setting up a piping bag and getting the stuff into the bag, and cleaning up after! I love that it comes in a variety of colors also. No need to mix paint and get messy!

One tube is enough to make 2 full iPhone cases, with a little left over for smaller projects. You should unscrew the piping tip after you're done, then put the cap back on tightly to save the whipped cream. You can let the whipped cream dry up in the piping tip, then peel it out afterwards.

I found that this whipped cream is a little hard to squeeze out of the tip. It is more dense than silicone, so it doesn't "flow" as easy. It helped to "massage" the contents of the tube for a few minutes to make the whipped cream easier to squeeze out!

The piped whipped cream will hold its shape. It becomes a little more "flat" after it sets, but doesn't melt into blobs like some other silicones do. It has superior adhesion properties to many silicones! I pulled on the cabochons on the cases I made, and they're not going anywhere lol! The feeling of this whipped cream is rubbery and flexible. It's not "springy" like how silicone is (when you push on it, it kind of bounces back) but it's NOT hard or brittle. It is rubbery.

These are the cases I made with Sophie & Toffee's Clay Whipped Cream!

in Pastel Pink

I put their Fake Sugar Sprinkles on this ice cream scoop :)

Overall I would recommend this clay whipped cream for deco, especially to hobbyists and people just starting out! It's fun, convenient, simple to use, great quality, smells good, and has lots of colors! It is also not very costly (if you work it out, about $4.76 per case). I think this is a great project you can do with children too, since it's not harsh chemicals/smell like with silicone :)

Christmas FOTD - Sugar Plum Fairy

noreply@blogger.com (ectini) — Fri, 27 Dec 2013 09:50:00 +0000

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas, and wishing you all a Happy New Year :)

I did this look for xmas dinner at our house. Not too different from my usual smoky eye, just added a berry-hued blush and lipstick and metallic brownbone highlight, which made me think of "Sugar Plum Fairy" ♡

(please ignore messy background and awkward hand poses lol idk what to do with myself sometimes)

Face

Cetaphil Oil Control Moisturizer
Neutrogena Shine Control Primer
Dermablend Smooth Indulgence Concealer in Almond
Revlon Color Stay Whipped Creme Foundation in Nude
ELF Studio Blush in Berry Merry
ELF Studio Blush in Gotta Glow

Eyes

Brows: Maybelline Brow Pencil in Blonde, NYX Eyebrow Marker in Medium
Too Faced Shadow Insurance
NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Yogurt -- Highlight
Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Shakedown -- Lid
Bronze from Stila Eye For Color Palette -- Crease
Wet N Wild Color Icon Eyeshadow in Trashed -- Outer-V
NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Cottage Cheese -- Inner corners/below lower lash line
Revlon ColorStay Eyeliner in Black
NYX Lashes - Review

Lips

NYX Lipliner in Nude
Maybelline Baby Lips in Grape Vine
Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Violet Frenzy

I am currently on the hunt for the perfect purple lipstick. I saw Revlon's Violet Frenzy at Long's and decided to pick it up since it looked bright and purple! However, as seen in the pictures, it's much more magenta/fuchsia than purple. I think I'll try Va Va Violet next :) If anyone has recommendations for good drugstore purple lipsticks, please share!

Review: Whipped Cream Silicone from Sophie & Toffee

noreply@blogger.com (ectini) — Mon, 09 Dec 2013 06:22:00 +0000

Price: SGD 12.25 (approx $9.77 USD)

Availability: buy here

How to use: Cut open the tip of the pack and squeeze all of the silicone into a prepared pastry bag with piping tip attached. It helps to push all the silicone to the tip of the pack BEFORE cutting it open. Then as you squeeze it into the pastry bag, tightly roll the pack from the top down to get as much as you can out of it.

I was so excited to receive this new silicone from S&T to try out! This special silicone is imported from Japan.

⭐ Single-use 60ml, no need for storing
⭐ Enough to make 1 iPhone 4/4s case
⭐ Smell isn’t too strong
⭐ Not sticky or stringy
⭐ Not hard to squeeze out
⭐ Holds the shape well
⭐ Glossy shiny finish
⭐ Dries flexible in 4 hours
⭐ Lightweight, doesn’t make your phone super heavy
⭐ Comes w/ 2 free piping bags

Sophie & Toffee also offers a variety of piping tips! To make this case, I used the 6-point star tip in the top left-hand corner of the 2nd picture. You can get this set of 8 piping tips from S&T here for approximately $2.77usd.

Thoughts:

I personally am not a fan of GE Silicone II (although a lot of people use it), I do not like how stringy, sticky, messy, and smelly it is. Using GE as a base to compare this to, this Japanese silicone is nowhere near as sticky, it was easy to clean up just by wiping it off my fingers with paper towel. It was not hard to pipe because it wasn’t “stringy” like how GE is. It holds the shape definition of the shells nicely. It dries within 4 hours and has a squishy texture, and is shiny. It is also lightweight which is a plus because most silicone combined with cabs tends to add a noticeable amount of weight to your phone. It has a very strong bond to the cabochons, and is secure and durable, even when I tried gently pulling on the cabs, they didn’t budge.

Initially when I was piping the case, I didn’t notice a strong smell like how GE has. However I should note afterwards, I did notice it has a strong “rubbery” smell up close when it had cured (it is not a “vinegary” smell like some silicones have). So I suggest letting it sit in front of a fan or open window for a few days and the smell will dissipate :)

Overall I would definitely recommend this silicone specifically to hobbyists looking to make cases for themselves! It is convenient because 1 packet is just enough to make one case, so you don’t have to worry about having too much left over, or having to store it and it drying out. It is easy to use for beginners and experts alike.

Have you tried this silicone? What are your thoughts on it?

I will be doing a giveaway with the case I made with this silicone, so stay tuned for details :)

Shop Review: Sophie & Toffee

noreply@blogger.com (ectini) — Fri, 16 Aug 2013 03:27:00 +0000

I've written about Sophie & Toffee on my blog a couple of times, and they still remain my #1 recommended decoden supply source since I started doing deco in 2009!

I would highly recommend Sophie & Toffee to those new to deco, because you'll find practically everything you need to start here! They have a huge variety of cabochons -- characters, sweets, flowers, hearts, bows, food, and more -- as well as rhinestones and pearls, miniatures, charms, chains, deco toppings, fabric ribbons, beads, polymer clay canes, resin supplies, clay, clay molds, hobby kits, jewelry findings, and crafting tools.

Their site is neatly organized into categories to find exactly what you're looking for. It's easy to navigate and user-friendly. You can sign up and create an account for free, and you can have a wishlist to keep track of all the items you want to buy. I love that now they offer wholesale price options if you want to buy in bulk. You can buy 1 piece at a time, or get better pricing for buying 5, 10, 20 etc.

I have NEVER had a negative experience with Sophie & Toffee. They ship promptly and you can track your order. It usually takes around 2 weeks to get to me (they are based in Singapore). Their customer service is also impeccable! They are very quick to respond to emails and help you resolve any issues with your orders -- I received a broken piece once, and it was replaced free of charge in my next order.

They also have lots of specials and sales! Visit them on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, and Instagram to keep up to date with their discounts and more.

I recently received some products from them for review:

Tiny black bows and blue stars. Candy sprinkles and pink sweets.

Yummy Korilakkuma desserts! Hello Kitty ice cream, Donuts & cakes. My favorite roses.

I love their cabochons because they are very well made and high quality, and they also have many unique pieces that you can't find elsewhere! They just came out with these new Korilakkuma sweets pieces and I just HAD to get them. I have not seen them available anywhere else yet so get them from Sophie & Toffee while you can!

Here is a case that I made with some of their Korilakkuma sweets pieces:

Here is a case that I made with their sprinkles:

I'm proud to say I use Sophie & Toffee products on just about all of my decoden cases in my shop, Kawaii x Couture! I would highly recommend Sophie & Toffee to anyone interested in deco :)

Want 10% OFF from Sophie & Toffee?

CLICK HERE to get a coupon for 10% off your next order with Sophie & Toffee!
Expires August 31, 2013.

FTC Disclaimer: The products mentioned in this post were provided to me for review by S&T.
This is my 100% honest opinion and experience with their business and products.

The Skinny on Naked Juice

noreply@blogger.com (ectini) — Wed, 31 Jul 2013 08:06:00 +0000

Have you heard of Naked Juice? Do you drink it?

I've been drinking a bottle of Naked Juice here and there (Green Machine and Berry Blast) since it's so expensive here (anywhere from $4-8 for a bottle), but only just yesterday found out about the huge controversy surrounding it... I brought home a bottle of Green Machine to my parents' house, and asked them if they wanted to try. Of course, I was met with "Ew, it looks weird." So I happily went on to drink the rest of the bottle myself. Fast forward to a few hours later, I get a text from my Dad saying "I think you better not drink that anymore..." and he proceeds to show me a post from his friend on Facebook, outing Naked Juice for false advertising.

I was horrified to read the claims against Naked Juice. I didn't know these lawsuits went back to 2011. I was skeptical at first but did my own digging on Google and here is what I found out:

Naked Juice uses false advertising to fraudulently promise that its beverage products are "100% juice," "all natural," and "non-GMO"
Naked Juice intentionally uses misleading language to give consumers "the false impression that the beverages vitamin content is due to the nutritious fruits and juices, rather than the added synthetic compounds such as calcium pantothenate (synthetically produced from formaldehyde)" and "Fibersol-2 (a proprietary synthetic digestion-resistant fiber produced by Archer Daniels Midland and developed by a Japanese chemical company), fructooligosaccharides (a synthetic fiber and sweetener) and inulin (an artificial and invisible fiber added to foods to ... increase fiber content without the typical fiber mouth-feel)."
The suit alleges that 11 synthetically derived substances - including niacinamide, d-alpha tocopherol acetate, cyanocobalamin, and pyridoxine hydrochloride - are contained in Naked Juice drinks which it says belie the label's claims that the beverage contains only the "freshest, purest stuff in the world."
"Even if the synthetic ingredients are safe--or even beneficial--they are still not what consumers consented to ingesting, and they are still not what (Naked Juice) warranted they were providing," the lawsuit says.

Sources:
http://www.opposingviews.com/i/health/food-and-nutrition/naked-juice-not-naked-advertised#
http://monrovia.patch.com/groups/politics-and-elections/p/monrovia-s-naked-juice-sued-again-for-false-advertising
http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2013/07/26/pepsi-co-naked-juice-not-natural/2589717/

The latest news says "PepsiCo Inc. will no longer label its Naked juices as being "all natural," after a lawsuit complained that the drinks contain ingredients that don't fit that bill... The case highlights the confusion around the use of the word "natural" in in the industry. The Food and Drug Administration doesn't currently have a definition for what constitutes a natural product... Notably, the FDA says it's difficult to define a food product that is natural, since it has likely been processed and is no longer a "product of the earth."

Needless to say, I won't be drinking any more Naked Juice. This is terribly disturbing to me because I've been trying to eat healthier. Things labeled "all natural" instantly catch my eye. It's disgusting to know how marketing and advertising can be used in such deceptive ways... how are we as consumers who are trying to be healthier; know what is REALLY "good for you" and what is just false advertising???

Kawaii x Couture Instagram Giveaway!

noreply@blogger.com (ectini) — Sat, 20 Jul 2013 21:02:00 +0000

Hi everyone! So I know I promised this giveaway ages ago lol, sorry! But here it is! Open to international entries too!

✨ KxC GIVEAWAY✨
There will be TWO winners! One for prize pack #1 and one for prize pack #2. You will get a pair of KxC exclusive drippy heart earrings, rilakkuma mini notepad, crown ring, and kawaii chocolate mirror

✨ TO ENTER ✨
1. Follow @kawaiixcouture
2. Screenshot & repost this pic
3. Tag @kawaiixcouture AND #kxcgiveaway
4. Say which prize pack you want to win, #1 OR #2. You can only choose one!
5. Optional: For one extra entry, follow my personal account, @ectini

✨ RULES ✨
- Must do everything above to qualify, I will check!
- Only 1 repost per person
- Profile must be public or else I can’t see your entry!
- No giveaway accounts!

✨ DEADLINE TO ENTER ✨
8/1/13

I will tally up all the entries and pick the winners via random number generator. I will then tag the winners in a post and they will need to contact me within 48 hours to claim their prize, or a new winner(s) will be chosen!

Thank you everyone for your support! Stay tuned for more giveaways!
www.KawaiixCoutureDecoden.com

Does spicy food increase your metabolism?

noreply@blogger.com (ectini) — Thu, 18 Jul 2013 07:46:00 +0000

Have you ever heard of this claim? I honestly haven't heard of it until recently. I also recently started craving spicy food for the past couple of months (no, not pregnant :P). So now I have a newfound love for spicy food flavors, especially kimchi! Yum. Nong Shim Kimchi flavor saimin is my weakness right now:

So I was wondering, does this claim have any evidence behind it? If so, I would gladly eat spicy food ALL THE TIME... :P But here is what I found out:

Over the years, various studies have examined the claim and suggested that certain spices can in fact increase metabolic rate by raising body temperature, though to what extent and for how long is unclear.
Capsaicin is the primary molecule responsible for the hot, burning sensation you get when you come into contact with spicy chilies. It is a member of a family of compounds called capsaicinoids, which have many beneficial effects including analgesia (pain relief), antioxidant potential and thermogenesis (calorie burning).
Studies have shown that on average a meal containing a spicy dish can temporarily increase metabolism by about 8 percent over a person’s normal rate, an amount considered fairly negligible.
But besides a slight uptick in metabolism, spicy foods may also increase feelings of satiety. The researchers suggested that capsaicin may work as an appetite suppressant.
In sum, while humans may get a modest boost in calorie burning immediately after a spicy meal, the effect is unlikely to be meaningful for long-term weight loss.

Sources:
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/28/health/nutrition/28real.html
http://blog.zocdoc.com/can-spicy-foods-boost-your-metabolism-fact-vs-myth/

So overall, spicy foods MAY have some effect on metabolism, but not a significant amount. It MAY help you eat less because it makes you feel fuller faster. Either way, I'll continue eating spicy food just 'cause I love it! Even a fairly negligible boost in metabolism is still something too ;P

I've made it through 1 week of Figurerobics!

noreply@blogger.com (ectini) — Thu, 18 Jul 2013 07:17:00 +0000

For anyone following my fitness/health-improvement journey, I started doing Figurerobics one week ago. What is Figurerobics you ask? It is a workout routine developed by 46 year old Korean mom of 2, Jung Da Yeon. And she looks pretty much half her age. This is a huge motivation for me, as I would like to age gracefully! *cries* Figurerobics is geared towards Asian bodies, for slimming and toning, rather than muscle/curve-building. This is perfect for me because I'm not looking to build muscle, get abs, etc. I just want to be trim, with a flat stomach and toned arms/legs.

I have been doing this workout for the past week:

And today I have also added in this workout:

What I like about Figurerobics is that it's simple! You don't need to go to the gym to do it. I do it right in my house. You don't need any special equipment either. I didn't have dumbbells for the 2nd routine so I just used food cans. It's easy to follow along with their movements. AND you will sweat and feel the burn!! I am in the "extremely out of shape" category so I would classify this workout as "brutal" in my book :P Well, it started out that way, at least. At the end of this week I definitely have less of a struggle getting through the entire routine. Today I was able to do the above TWO 30 minute workouts! That is an accomplishment for me lol XD

I've also been trying hard to eat healthier. I cut out rice from my diet (or only minimal portions once in a great while), drink more water, and don't snack throughout the day like I used to. I don't have a scale, so I'm not actually sure if I'm losing weight. But today I found out I could finally fit a pair of pants that I couldn't button a month ago! So I'm looking to keep up this 1-or-2-a-day workout routine and hope I can shed some pounds in the next few months :)

OOTD: Summer Fun

noreply@blogger.com (ectini) — Mon, 15 Jul 2013 22:50:00 +0000

Took an impromptu roadtrip to the other side of the island (Kona) yesterday. Thought I should wear something a little summery since it's exceptionally hot & humid right now! Ironically it actually did end up raining on the way :P

I put the yellow lace-back top in the dyer too long on accident and it ended up shrinking into somewhat of a crop top. Initially I was mortified because I don't wear crop tops (don't feel like it's very flattering on my figure), but I guess it looks okay with this outfit! This was also day 4 of Figurerobics, and my legs are killing me! Hoping to really trim my thighs and arms. The white scalloped lace shorts are a size 5, which I hate to admit :'( I'm aiming to get back into 3's, or hopefully 1's!

Top: American Rag

Shorts: Bongo, from Sears
Shoes: "Forever" brand, from Jeans Warehouse

Review: Platform Ankle Boots from Syndrome

noreply@blogger.com (ectini) — Fri, 12 Jul 2013 23:30:00 +0000

Jeffrey Campbell Lita's seem to be all the rage now but I personally can't justify shelling out hundreds of dollars for shoes (other than Tory Burch, my one shoe-related weakness :P). So I was on the hunt for some cute lookalikes at a good price. I came across the store Syndrome while browsing on Storenvy. They specialize in cute Asian fashion and accessories!

I ordered a pair of Spiked Ankle Boots in black faux leather (available here) and a pair of white Floral Lace Platform Ankle Boots (available here).

Black Faux Leather Spiked Ankle Boots
Size 6

White Floral Lace Platform Ankle Boots
Size 5.5

Product Pictures

(click to enlarge)

Price: 5/5

The black boots were $40 and the white boots were $45. Shipping was $10 so my total was $95. Consider this is 2 PAIRS for still LESS than the price of ONE pair of Jeffrey Campbell Litas, which go from $160-200+ I was also looking at other shops offering similar lookalikes, and Syndrome's were easily the best price.

Quality: 5/5

I absolutely adore these ankle boots because they really do look just like the product pictures! They came in two separate shipments and the boxes were pretty beat up, but the shoes were perfectly fine. They look and feel well-made, there was nothing falling off or coming apart, no loose threads, etc. They don't feel or look cheapy at all. Shipping took about 2 weeks to get here.

I honestly haven't worn them anywhere yet because 1) there's nowhere in Hilo to wear them and 2) they are just beautiful and for now I'll just admire them on my shoe rack lol. So I can't speak for their durability or long-wear comfort at the moment :P I did break them in a bit and walked around my house in them, and they were comfortable for me! I really don't do well with really high heels so I was a bit intimidated by these (Heel: 4.5 in, Platform: 1.8 in) but they were actually not hard to walk around in!

I was hesitant to get the black ones because the smallest size available was 6, and I usually fit a 5 or 5.5. But the 6 actually fit okay and I think it would be good with some shoe inserts. The white ones were 5.5 and fit fine!

Customer Service: 5/5

I had messaged Syndrome before I bought the boots because I was concerned about the size and wanted to know if they fit true to size or ran small. I got a very speedy reply from them and was told that a size 6 should fit okay if you are between 5-5.5 (which it did). I also emailed them again because I had lost the tracking info for one of the shipments and wanted to check the status of the package. Again I got a very speedy reply with the tracking info! Syndrome's customer service is very friendly, professional, and fast.

Overall: 5/5

I would definitely order from Syndrome again. They have a wide selection of adorable asian fashion products like tights, dresses, heels, bags, even wigs. From my experience, their products are of good quality, shipping was quick and their business is very reputable. Two thumbs up!

I want to look like Jung Da Yeon when I'm 46 with 2 kids, please!!!

noreply@blogger.com (ectini) — Fri, 12 Jul 2013 01:30:00 +0000

Trying Figurerobics after reading this article! Just did this 30min session and I am pooped. I’ve been trying (obviously not very hard) to get into shape but unfortunately, I hate anything that has to do with exercise -_- but this workout is simple, you just follow along and you don’t need any special equipment to do it! Aiming to do a session of Figurerobics once a day and see how it goes.

I don’t consider myself “overweight" but in the past few years I have definitely put on some pounds. I don’t fit a lot of my clothes (mostly shorts and pants) anymore and I would like to change that because… I’m not willing to get rid of my cute shorts and pants lol. I would like to lose at least 5 pounds through exercise and eating healthy, and see where I can go from there. Will update on my progress as I go along!

What do you think of Figurerobics?
Know of some simple & easy workouts to share?

So I have a Mexican Walking Fish and he is pretty cool

noreply@blogger.com (ectini) — Thu, 11 Jul 2013 22:01:00 +0000

I have this (possibly weird?) obsession with cute squishy aquatic creatures like squid, octopi, cuttlefish, and especially jellyfish... And one more interesting animal I've been super fascinated by is the axolotl. If you've never heard of an axolotl (pronounced ACK-suh-LAH-tuhl) before, read on!

It is pretty much a real-life Pokemon XD I only just recently found that they are actually NOT illegal in Hawaii! Our friend that owns a pet store here brought some in for me, so now I have one!

This is "Kiwi" when we first got him:

He is a Green Florescent Pigmented Axolotl and glows under black light.

I'm not sure how old he is but I've had him for 8 weeks now. He is surprisingly uncomplicated to care for, and is very entertaining to watch. I post videos & pics of him swimming n stuff on my Instagram.

Here's some facts about axolotls:

It is a species of salamander (not to be confused with the waterdog aka tiger salamander)
It remains in a larval stage throughout its adult life
Lives permanently in water, up to 15 years
It is carnivorous. Eats worms, shrimp/fish-based pellets, etc.
They exist in the wild in only one place, the lake complex of Xochimilco near Mexico City
Wild types are typically black or mottled brown. Other colors exist such as albino and white varieties, particularly among captive specimens. Wild populations are in decline due to habitat loss and pollution. Wild axolotls are considered a critically endangered species :(
Can be quite large, reaching up to a foot in length, although the average size is closer to half that.
Rather than forming scar tissue when wounded, tissues at the wound site convert to a stem cell-like state, meaning that they are able to re-grow missing tissue in its entirety, even a whole limb (HOW COOL IS THAT?!)

Sources:

http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/amphibians/axolotl/

http://www.arkive.org/axolotl/ambystoma-mexicanum/#speciesFactFile

Kiwi more recently:

He is now about 3.5in long. In the first picture you could see he was missing most of his toes. They have since grown back :) The frilly things coming from his head are gills.

Axolotls have poor eyesight, so he relies on smell to find his food (I feed him sinking shrimp fish food pellets). Axolotls are messy eaters and make a lot of waste, so the tank collects particles. I siphon out the junk and do a water change once a week. Axolotls need to be kept in cool, de-chlorinated water, the optimum range is 60-64 °F. Apparently if they get heat-sick, it's a good idea to put them in the fridge (I've never had to do this so far). All in all, a very cool creature and I am glad to have him! Expect to see more of this little guy on my blog :)

Have you heard of axolotls before? What do you think?
Cute, cool, creepy?

Google Friend Connect Issues?

noreply@blogger.com (ectini) — Thu, 11 Jul 2013 03:46:00 +0000

Is anyone else unable to follow people's blogs through the Google Friend Connect gadget? Every time I try to follow anyone, I get this message: "We're sorry... We were unable to handle your request. Please try again or return a bit later."

Yesterday I was able to follow people fine, but it was giving me this message all day today. Even when I try to add blogs manually from my dashboard, I get an error saying to try again later :(

Update: 7/11/13

I learned Google Reader itself was discontinued but GFC is still connected with blogger/blogger dashboard feed, which is what I use to read people's blogs (I didn't use Google Reader). Seems like the followers gadget is now working for me today, and I can follow people again! Yay!

Energy Efficient Blog Layout Design?

noreply@blogger.com (ectini) — Wed, 10 Jul 2013 21:20:00 +0000

A long time ago I remember going to a blog-layout site that advertised "green" layouts. "Green" meaning eco-friendly. This was a foreign notion to me and I didn't really read too much into it other than noticing all the layouts they had available were black or dark. In re-designing my blog layout, I randomly remembered about this and wanted to learn more about it.

Here's a few things I found out:

Reduction in energy usage can be obtained by designing web sites that use darker colors or shades, particularly within sites’ backgrounds.
According to the U.S. Dept. of Energy, “White and bright colors (especially in backgrounds) can use up to 20% more power than black or dark colors.”
Your screen is composed of pixels, and the color of each pixel is determined by the amount light passing through it: white is 100% light output, and black is zero. The takeaway here is that for certain types of devices (e.g. projectors, older monitors, and LED screens), brighter colors consume more energy than darker colors
If you’re viewing these websites on a state-of the-art LCD screen, the difference in color amounts to pretty much nothing. But with old-style CRT monitors (which are still heavily used) and even LED monitors (which are increasingly being adopted) —the impact of color is significant.
If you want to save energy while searching the web, try Blackle, a black-bacgrounded version of Google.
While there is controversy over whether a black color palette is more energy efficient than light colors on a website, there are still proponents of the darker website design.

Sources:
http://www.sproutreach.com/blog/design-for-environmental-causes/energy-efficient-web-design/
http://blog.opower.com/2013/06/saving-energy-by-design-how-simple-considerations-by-web-designers-can-shrink-the-internets-energy-footprint/
http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2010/09/20/making-the-web-a-better-place-guidelines-for-green-web-design/

I have an iMac which has an LCD screen so I guess the color difference is "pretty much nothing," but I figure if other people viewing my blog might have different kinds of screens, it would be good to revamp my layout to be more energy efficient and thus, more eco-friendly.

So I went from a super bright-based layout...

...To what I have now. I opted for a dark background but of course had to have a pop of pink :P

What do you think of the idea of "green" blog layout design?
Is your layout energy efficient?

Where have I been for the past... forever?

noreply@blogger.com (ectini) — Wed, 10 Jul 2013 07:23:00 +0000

It feels like forever since I've last blogged anything of actual substance (the last review I wrote was in November 2012!). Does anyone still read this blog? I've fell out of touch with the blogging world around the end of 2010 and have only been sporadically posting over the past 3 years. Throughout that time I kept telling myself that I would try and pick it up again, but just couldn't find the time, inspiration, or motivation... but right now I have all three of those things! So I'm trying to start up my blogging hobby once again :)

So what have I been up to over my 3 year semi-hiatus?

I was finishing college at the University of Hawaii at Hilo.
I graduated in May with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art!

I co-bought a house and moved out of my parent's.
Currently living happily with my Mr. Right :)

I have been growing my business, Kawaii x Couture Decoden.
I moved from Etsy to Storenvy and launched our official website in December 2012

I'm working with my Dad at our family business, Tanimoto Dharma Designs.
Many changes at the office & we're coming out with new and exciting products!

I'm doing freelance graphic/web design on the side & working on my own design projects.

I'll also be returning to UH Hilo to work at the Graphics Media Dept. as a designer there too.

I'm an avid Instagrammer and Yelp-er!

I've developed a renewed love for food! Love looking for new places to eat & review.

I'm trying to be more "fashionable" :P

I've started expanding my wardrobe and trying out new styles with my hair.

I'm continuing my body modification process.
Lobes at 5/8" and 18 piercings, looking into tattoos, subdermal implants & scarification next.

And that's majority of what I've been up to lately :)

I started out this blog intending it for it to be makeup/beauty-related, but now I'm at a point in my life where makeup is no longer my biggest passion. I still love it but I rarely play around with new eyeshadow or lipstick like I used to.

So now I'm planning to use this blog to write about more topics than just makeup -- beauty, art, AND life. Day-to-day events, interesting things I learn, artists that inspire me, new things to try, DIY creativity, etc. Basically all the stuff that makes me tick! So hopefully I'll be able to keep it up :)

Kawaii x Couture Decoden New Website Launch & 20% OFF Promo Code!

noreply@blogger.com (ectini) — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 07:37:00 +0000

Hey everyone! Just wanted to pop in to announce the grand opening of my new online storefront for my decoden shop, Kawaii x Couture! We have moved from our Etsy Site to Storenvy at:

www.KawaiixCoutureDecoden.com!

I specialize in custom decoden phone cases, jewelry, and accessories. All handmade in Hawaii :)

In celebration of the launch of my new webstore,

I'm having a promotion for the ENTIRE MONTH!

Use code: KXC20 To get 20% OFF your order!

Valid throughout the entire month of December.

Happy Holiday Shopping and thank you so much for your support!

Product Overview and FOTD: Tokidoki Prisma Lip Gloss in Strawberry Latte

noreply@blogger.com (ectini) — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 06:02:00 +0000

Tokidoki Prisma Lip Gloss in Strawberry Latte over
Maybelline ColorSensational Lipstick in Pink Please

Just wanted to do a really quick overview on this gloss! I got it from Sephora when I was in Vegas and it was on sale for $5! Score! Although adorable, I would not have paid the original price tag of $15 for it, nor do I think it is worth that much!

The good stuff:

Adorable packaging
Has a sweet flavor
Nice high-shine gloss

The low-down:

Has practically no tint to it at all. Basically a clear gloss
The scent/taste might be too sweet for some
The lasting power is really bad

Overall:

I love this gloss because it adds beautiful high-shine to any lip color! Unfortunately the wear-time is very very short. I'd say an hour tops. So if you want it to last, you have to keep reapplying. I don't have a problem with the candy-sweet scent & taste, but if you're not a fan of flavored glosses then I'd steer clear of this. It also is basically just a clear gloss. No tint at all to it. So mainly I just use this gloss to add a pop of shine to any lip color for a short while!

What am I wearing?

Eyes

Smashbox Photo Finish Lid Primer
Maybelline Eyebrow Pencil in Medium Brown
Stila Eye for Color Eyeshadow Palette - Coffee all over lid
Stila Eye for Color Eyeshadow Palette - Burgandy on outer-v
Stila Eye for Color Eyeshadow Palette - Porcelain below the brow
Wet N Wild Color Icon Eyeshadow in Trashed on outer-v
Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencil in Perversion
Revlon ColorStay Liquid Eye Pen in Black
Velour Lashes in Lash in the City

Lips

Maybelline ColorSensational Lipstick in Pink Please
Tokidoki Prisma Gloss in Strawberry Latte

Face

Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer
Dermablend Smooth Indulgence Concealer in Almond
Lovely Me:Ex BB Cream
Revlon Photoready Pressed Powder in Light/Med
ELF Bronzer in Sunkissed

NOTD: Black & Nude Stiletto Nails

noreply@blogger.com (ectini) — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 05:31:00 +0000

I've been obsessed with the pointy nail look lately :)

Growing out my nails just so I can do stiletto nails!

Black & Red Louboutin nails I did for Halloween
Nails Inc. Patent Black Taxi and a rusty red polish, Seche Vite

Nude & Gold Glitter nails I'm sporting currently

ELF Desert Haze and NYX Mushroom Glitter, Seche Vite

Check out MissKiraKira on Etsy for kawaii handmade crochet beanies & more!

noreply@blogger.com (ectini) — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 07:53:00 +0000

Want an awesome 100% handmade crochet beanie like these? Check out my friend Kristina aka Miss KiraKira’s ETSY SHOP! She makes adorable completely custom handcrafted crochet beanies, as well as lovely jewelry and adorable clay charms, keychains, magnets, and more! For unique and sweet kawaii items you will not find anywhere else!<3 p="p">

SHOP: etsy.com/shop/misskirakira

It's spelled with a "Y"

Review: My experience with YourTea.com Tiny Teatox

NOTD: Pink & Mint

Pageant Nails

NOTD: Black x Gold Love

Pageant Nails

Product Review: House of Lashes Noir Fairy & Pixie Luxe

The Rundown:

Overall:

Product Overview: Blonde and Pink Wig from eBay

FOTD: Inspired by the works of Michael Hussar & Naye0na

Eyes

Lips

Face

This look was inspired by:

http://instagram.com/naye0na#

http://instagram.com/michael_hussar#

Review: Whipped Cream Clay from Sophie & Toffee

About the product:

Thoughts:

Christmas FOTD - Sugar Plum Fairy

Face

Eyes

Lips

Review: Whipped Cream Silicone from Sophie & Toffee

Thoughts:

Shop Review: Sophie & Toffee

Here is a case that I made with some of their Korilakkuma sweets pieces:

Here is a case that I made with their sprinkles:

Want 10% OFF from Sophie & Toffee?

The Skinny on Naked Juice

Have you heard of Naked Juice? Do you drink it?

Kawaii x Couture Instagram Giveaway!

Does spicy food increase your metabolism?

I've made it through 1 week of Figurerobics!

OOTD: Summer Fun

Review: Platform Ankle Boots from Syndrome

Black Faux Leather Spiked Ankle BootsSize 6

White Floral Lace Platform Ankle BootsSize 5.5

Product Pictures

Price: 5/5

Quality: 5/5

Customer Service: 5/5

Overall: 5/5

I want to look like Jung Da Yeon when I'm 46 with 2 kids, please!!!

What do you think of Figurerobics?Know of some simple & easy workouts to share?

So I have a Mexican Walking Fish and he is pretty cool

This is "Kiwi" when we first got him:

Here's some facts about axolotls:

Kiwi more recently:

Have you heard of axolotls before? What do you think? Cute, cool, creepy?

Google Friend Connect Issues?

Update: 7/11/13

Energy Efficient Blog Layout Design?

Here's a few things I found out:

What do you think of the idea of "green" blog layout design? Is your layout energy efficient?

Where have I been for the past... forever?

So what have I been up to over my 3 year semi-hiatus?

Kawaii x Couture Decoden New Website Launch & 20% OFF Promo Code!

Product Overview and FOTD: Tokidoki Prisma Lip Gloss in Strawberry Latte

NOTD: Black & Nude Stiletto Nails

Check out MissKiraKira on Etsy for kawaii handmade crochet beanies & more!

Black Faux Leather Spiked Ankle Boots
Size 6

White Floral Lace Platform Ankle Boots
Size 5.5

What do you think of Figurerobics?
Know of some simple & easy workouts to share?

Have you heard of axolotls before? What do you think?
Cute, cool, creepy?

What do you think of the idea of "green" blog layout design?
Is your layout energy efficient?