luv SUGAR cookie Life and Beauty

Too Faced: Star Dust Eyeshadow Palette Review

2015-12-09T23:09:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone,

Gosh, there are just so many great palettes out there this year and I am super excited to test them out for you.

Too Faced Star Dust eyeshadow palette has neutral to warm shades with an extra pop of color. The palette cost $45 with twelve matte and shimmer shades.It also includes a travel size Better Than Sex mascara, shadow insurance eye primer, and a loose glitter pigment.

The palette is thin enough to travel with which I always find very useful and with the variety of colors I can create endless looks.

Too Faced teamed up with a YouTuber name Vegas _Nay to create this palette that is exclusive at Ulta. Inside, there are six cards with different eye shadow looks that can be worn from day to night.

Now, how cute are these names: The Strip, Showgirl, Jackpot, etc If you live in Vegas, you should definitely buy it =)

My favorite shades are: Follow Me, Pink Pearl, Showgirl, and Double Tap.

Here are the swatches:

There are 2-3 shades that I feel is a bit streaky with some fallout and they are Golden Nugget, The Strip, and Girl's Night. Girl's Night is such a pretty color, but I had to swatch twice to get the pigment I have below (# 3 from the left)

Even though there are a few colors that are not as pigmented as I like, this is still a great palette. These shadows are easy to blend and works well when you apply some fix + to get a stronger pigment.

PRO- easy to travel with, have a variety of shades, easy to blend, pigmented, no creasing, includes an awesome eye primer and mascara

CON- some fallout, one shadow in particular is streaky, no mirror

Overall:

Until next time,

Stay healthy, beautiful, and inspired.

<3 <3 <3

NYX butt "naked" and Laura Geller Gelato Swirl illuminator in Gilded Honey review

2015-11-15T21:21:00.001-08:00

Hello Everyone,

I have many makeup products review coming up in the next few weeks leading up to Christmas. It will be a combination of luxury brands and drugstores. During this time of the year, makeup brands are coming out with their holiday palettes and sometimes it can be very difficult to decide on which one to get. This year, there are a lot of amazing ones out there that I am excited to review. If you are a makeup junkie like me, you can never have too many eye shadow palettes or lip products.

Let's start with the NYX butt "naked" collection. The name is just adorable.
The price is reasonable: $25 (I was able to get it at Ulta- http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?productId=xlsImpprod13311513 or at http://www.nyxcosmetics.com/butt-naked-eyes-makeup-palette/NYX_045.html)

The packaging is small and compact with a large mirror. Great to carry along with you when traveling.
Eye shadow size: 0.03 oz, Blush: 0.07oz, and illuminators: 0.14oz

This collection comes with 15 neutral matte and shimmery eye shadows, 4 blush, 3 illuminators. These eye shadows here are cool tones which I don't have a lot of because I like eye shadows that are mostly warm tones. If you are a cool tone lover, you may want to pick this up.

Most of the eye shadows here have great color payoff except for a few that you would need to pack on more for the color to show up. The blush on the other hand are very pigmented (two thumbs up) and the highlighters do not have any chunky glitters which is another plus. The blushes and highlights are what I like most about this palette.

The color here are gorgeous, especially the burnt orange/red. I have circled my favorite colors in red. Again, for the lighter colors you do need to build it up but the darker ones are great. Another thing to keep in mind, they do take a little bit longer to blend. Although these eye shadows are not like the buttery ones from Urban Decay, Tarte, etc I think it is a good starter palette for everyday use. I would recommend to put a primer underneath the eye shadows so it can last longer.

Here are some swatches for the eye shadows: this is the result with just one swatch. You can see that some of the lighter colors do not show up.

Here are the swatches for the 4 blushes and 3 illuminators:

Overall rating: Best palette from NYX so far.

Laura Geller Baked Gelato Swirl Illuminator

Highlights and illuminators are very popular now. It definitely gives you a healthy glow, however, if you apply too much you can look like a disco ball.

I heard so many great things about Gilded Honey illuminator and it is always sold out at Ulta. Now it is back in stock and you can purchase it here: http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?productId=xlsImpprod12291867

Size: 0.16oz

This illuminator looks so natural on and a little goes a long way. It can be used as an eye shadow or a highlight. Gilded Honey works well for fair to medium skin tone. If you are deeper skin tone, I recommend the color Ballerina. The packaging is small (easy to carry in your purse) and it glides on smoothly with your finger... I do see why people rave about this. I like this highlight just as much as I like Champagne Pop by Becca.

Here is the swatch:

Overall rating: Definitely try it out!!!

Until next time,

stay healthy, beautiful, and inspired.

<3 <3 <3

Fall DIY- How to use pumpkins as a centerpiece

2015-10-05T22:20:00.002-07:00

Hello Everyone,

Looking for an inexpensive fall house decor? Nothing says Fall more than decorating or carving pumpkins. Since I will not be carving the pumpkins, it makes more sense for me to get the miniature ones. These are about fifty to seventy cents each or a bag of six for $7 at the super market. Depending on the type of decor you are going for, there are round ones, white ones, ones with ridges, etc. I like mine to be a mixture of the different shapes and sizes.

Now for the art supplies. All the halloween theme decor at Michael's are 50% off, plus I got an additional 20% off my total from a coupon that they have. Yay for discounts!

Idea #1:
Spray paint the pumpkin to any color you want. Wow, look how fancy it is already. A gold pumpkin!

Idea #2
Or you can choose a spray paint with gold glitter.

Of course, I just had to add more glitter to both pumpkins to spice it up!

Idea #3:
Paint them.

Idea #4:
You can also paint the colors of your favorite sports team.

Idea #5:
Decorate the pumpkin with accessories. Yeah, this is definitely not a scary pumpkin.

Once you are done, you can place them onto a plate and make it your centerpiece. I just added a few signs so if anyone tries to take one, they have been forewarned!

Alright, I hope you guys enjoyed this blog! Happy Fall!

Until next time,
stay healthy, beautiful, and inspired.

<3 <3<3

iheartshabbychic- DIY:Wedding wands, custom teapots, and banner

2015-06-24T23:53:00.001-07:00

Hello Everyone,

Checkout my DIY here: http://iheartshabbychic711.blogspot.com/2015/06/diy-wedding-wands-custom-teapots-and.html

Until next time,
Stay beautiful, healthy, and inspired.

<3 <3 <3

How to get organized for your wedding

2015-06-04T20:51:00.002-07:00

Hello Everyone,

The wedding is in less than two months away and it is very important to start preparing a list of things you would need to bring to the venue AND an execution plan. Yep, my project manager skills are becoming useful. To keep myself organized, I want to make sure I have a checklist that I know I can count on. It is going to be very chaotic that week and having a list will help reduce the stress. Ain't nobody got time for that!

Of course, with my list I have to make it pretty. I like to write on something that is colorful and fun. I picked up two plain white poster boards from Michaels that I can easily roll up and carry with me to the venue. Now, let's start decorating!

What you need: Sharpie pens, sponges, small paint set, and any type of designs and lettering.

For my poster, I created a Pre-wedding checklist and the Day Of. Pre-wedding is for anything I need to bring to the venue. Day Of are going to be task assignments. For example, who will be setting up the candy bar, greeting table, dinner tables, decors for the barn, etc

Also, don't forget to personalize it with your initials on the bottom. =)

On the second poster, it will be for the Wedding Day Setup. I took pictures of where I want the tables to be setup at the venue and how I would like the tables to be setup. Also, next to the picture is a checklist of the items that are needed for each table.

Remember, have fun planning. Take advantage of this time to be creative for your wedding.

Until next time,
stay beautiful, healthy, and inspired.

<3 <3 <3

Countdown to the wedding: 2 months

2015-05-03T17:36:00.001-07:00

Hello Everyone,

Yikes the wedding is about two months away and I am super excited. Currently, I am just cherishing this moment of being a bride. As we get closer to the wedding, I know time will fly by and I want to make it as memorable as I can. Nothing says you are the "bride" than a T-shirt.

T-shirt: Etsy- IselleDesignStudio
Necklace(s): Chloe and Isabel
Shoes: Oscar de la Renta: They are classic/vintage inspired which I love and match well with our wedding theme.

At this point it is all about the details. I want to share some ideas on how you can customize your wedding by starting with the cake topper.

My fiance and I always knew we wanted a customized cake topper. Etsy is a great place to look for almost anything you want to customize. We were impressed with the work at The Rosemary Toppers and decided use them. They are really easy to work with and before you send the final payment, they will send you a picture of your topper for approval.

I will not show you what our topper looks like until after my wedding, but here are some samples they have on their website:

More customized ideas in my future blogs... so stay tuned!
Most importantly, don't forget to enjoy being a bride.

Until next time,

stay healthy, beautiful, and inspired.

<3<3<3

How I lost weight to get ready for my wedding

2015-04-09T22:30:00.001-07:00

Hello Everyone,

I don't know how many times I have said, "I am back" and I end up not keeping up with my blogs. How embarrassing.

I am trying to make time to blog because this has always been a passion of mine. The wedding is about three months away and I just need to find a balance between work, wedding planning, gym, and my blog. Hopefully, I can blog at least once a week but no promises. :)

In the past two months, I have been getting back into my workout routines. I forgot how much I love it!
Along with working out, eating healthy and counting your calories are important. My fiancé and I have been eating a lot of fish and vegetables for dinner. In the morning, we will have a decent breakfast and for lunch I will either just snack on a power bar or have something simple like soup or a salad.

As for my workout, I go to the gym 3-4 times a week. It is good to change up your workout routine so your muscles can recuperate. During the week, I would take boxing, bootcamp, TRX, and will start spin class soon. The bootcamp at my gym does a lot of circuit training which is great for developing strength and muscle endurance. If I don't have time to go to the gym, I will go for a 3 mile run to burn some calories.

I hope this helps.

Until next time,
stay healthy, beautiful, and inspired.

<3 <3 <3

Bridesmaids for the wedding

2015-03-31T23:05:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone,

I am happy to say, I have a fantastic group of girls as my bridesmaids! Each of them has been through different stages of my life and I am so grateful to have them be a part of my special day. I have already put them to work by having them take a selfie with the flowers I sent them as an appreciation. I think they are already regretting it. =o)

Some ideas for your Valentine's Day gift

2015-02-02T19:29:00.001-08:00

Hello Everyone,

Valentine's Day is just around the corner! What are you getting for your loved ones? Here is a great set to get from Pandora. It is the heart to heart collection. I have always love to mix silver and gold no matter what people say. The gold heart is made from 14K gold and the silver is sterling silver. All of their jewelry are individually handcrafted which makes the quality that much better.
Ring: $65
Earrings: $65
Check out their Valentine's Day Collection:
http://www.pandora.net/en-us/explore/collections/valentines2015

Another gift idea is the cheese and crackers serving board- this is a great way to serve to your guests and will also satisfy his/her appetite. ;)
Price: $48
http://www.uncommongoods.com/product/cheese-crackers-serving-board

Girls, we just cannot get enough pillows. Here are some decorative pillows with cute messages that will spice up your bed.

Price: $13

http://www.gifts.com/valentines-day/decor/nC0mSzqbC?featuredId=872169

Other fun and cool gift ideas:

If he/she really loves sushi, maybe get him/her a vivid iphone case:

or a hairdryer that looks like a vintage pistol:

or a cute mini canon camera if he/she is a youtuber/vlogger

Alright, good luck on finding the perfect gift for that special someone.

Until next time,

stay beautiful, healthy, and inspired.

<3 <3 <3

New blogpost- Ideas for vintage/rustic/shabby chic wedding

2015-01-23T20:47:00.004-08:00

Hello everyone,

I have a a new post on my new blogspot. Go check it out for wedding ideas:
http://iheartshabbychic711.blogspot.com/2015/01/ideas-for-vintagerusticshabby-chic.html

Until next time,
Stay beautiful, healthy, and inspired.

<3 <3 <3

Wedding Dress: Said Yes to The Dress

2015-01-01T23:28:00.001-08:00

Hello Everyone,

I am so happy to say I found my wedding dress(es)! Remember, a wedding dress normally takes 5-6 months to order and 2 months for alteration. If I were to order my dress later than December, I would need to pay extra for express shipping which will be another $100-300. I have learned so much from my experience and would like to share with all of you.

Here are my recommendations:
- Do some research on the different types of dresses that you would like to try on: Mermaid, Trumpet, Sheath, A-Line, Modified A-line, ballgown, etc Knowing you body shape, there are some that fits better than others.
- Look for ideas from Pinterest and create a folder for all your favorite wedding dresses so you can show the person at the store. They may ask you if you have any designer in mind so it will be good to know which designer fits your style.
- Ask your friends who are married for suggestions on which wedding store to go first that may be nearby your area.
- Once you have a list of places, let the party begin! Ask 1-2 people to go with you... sometimes I feel if there are too many people, you will get a lot of opinions and it will slow the process down, but it all depends on how much time you have.

- Wedding boutiques with appointments are great because they make sure they meet your needs and offer great opinions. However, the dresses that I found were not necessary in a boutique.

During my wedding dress shopping, I think I tried on about 15 dresses. I was drained by the end of the day, but always remember to have fun and enjoy those moments

I have picked out two dresses that I am going to wear which will not be shown here until after my wedding. The dresses I have on here are just for me to take you guys along with me during my dress shopping escapade.

I went with my Maid of Honor and she was extremely helpful and honest.

Here are some snapshots:

I hope this helps and good luck on finding THE dress!

Until next time,
stay healthy, beautiful, and inspired.

<3 <3 <3

Nature Box Free Trial

2014-12-05T22:19:00.001-08:00

Hello Everyone,

Yay, my first NatureBox just came in and I am excited to try all the different samples they sent me. I have seen this before and heard a lot of good things about them so I thought it is time to give this a try. They claim they do not use high fructose corn syrup, 0g trans fats, no artificial colors, no artificial sweeteners, and no artificial flavors. I do want to start eating healthier so instead of reaching for a bag of potato chips, I will have a bag of these healthy snacks to satisfy my cravings. Since these are nutritionist approved snacks, I do feel a little bit better about what I put in my body. After looking at the list of snacks, they have something for everyone from vegan to gluten-free to non-GMO to made without milk or nuts, etc. All of them sound so good I just want to try all.

In my free trial, I got one full sized bag and four single-served pouches. It was only $1.97 for shipping and handling. Just FYI- once you sign up you will automatically be subscribed to a monthly box for $19.99. You can cancel at anytime if you don't want to subscribe. To get this free trial here is the link: http://naturebox.com/offer/free/sampler/?afid=bing_pfree&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=CPC&utm_campaign=search&utm_term=GDN&utm_content=gz

The one full sized bag is a surprise. I received the dark cocoa nom noms. I am not a dark chocolate fan, but I am willing to give this a try.

The four smaller bags are: coconut cashews, sea salt sun-crunch (this one sounds good), cranberry medley (yummy!), and garden tomato crunches (interesting....).

Overall, my goal is to eat healthier and have something to munch on when I am craving for a snack or on a go.

Until next time,
stay healthy, beautiful, and inspired.

<3 <3 <3

Charming Charlie- Christmas accessories

2014-11-23T11:48:00.002-08:00

GlamGlow Review

2014-11-06T23:44:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone,

What is GlamGlow? Why would people pay $69 for a small jar of mud mask? I thought since Sephora is having the 20% discount for VIBs, this is a good opportunity for me to try this product. GlamGlow comes in four different types of treatment for your face and the one I purchased is for exfoliant. It claims to leave your skin soft, smooth, and radiant. I did feel a bit skeptical about the product but after reading some of the reviews, I felt better about the purchase even though it is pricey.

Why HELLO THERE, SEXY!

In this kit, it came with an extra bonus tube with a regular size jar (1.7 fl oz).

There is a patent pending for this product and is the WORLD's Best Mask Winner.

The mud is gray with a strong tea scent. The scent reminds me of being at a spa getting facials or a massage. I love the scent, but I can see why some people may think it is too potent. The ingredients are active Green Tea Leaf, Volcanic Minerals, Ivy, Cucumber, Comfrey Herb, Lavender, and Chamomile Flower and Marigold Flower. Anything with tea leaf, cucumber, and lavender makes me feel relaxed.

With a cleanse face, I would apply a thin layer of this mud to my face. Be aware of small chunks of tea leaves mixed in the mud because it makes it harder to apply. In just a few seconds, there is this tingling feeling and within 10 minutes, the mud dries on your skin.

Rinse the mud off in a circular motion to exfoliate your skin. My fiancé and I both can tell that our skin feels smoother and the pores look smaller right after we washed the mud off. Now, I understand why they use this in Hollywood to provide a camera-ready glowing skin. I would prefer to use this over any other face masks. Due to the high price point, I will use this sparingly only when my face needs a little TLC. I am not sure how it will be for people who have sensitive skin. I would recommend trying out some samples before making any big purchases.

Make sure to take advantage of the 20% discount at Sephora from 11/6-10.

I look so tired so I am heading to bed.

Until next time,

stay beautiful, healthy, and inspired.

<3 <3 <3

Urban Decay Vice 3 and Marc Jacob Perfection Powder

2014-11-02T18:10:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone!!!!

Wow, wow, wow.. I missed blogging so much. I hope everyone had a great and safe Halloween. Well Fall is here and I am super excited about all the candles that have at Bath and Body Works. Girls, you know what I am talking about =)
I am trying to burn up Frosted Cupcake, so I can light my favorite scent for Fall- Leaves and Warm Caramel Cider. The scent of these candles makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside and I just never want to leave the house.

Alright let's talk about makeup. Urban Decay came out with the Vice3 palette which consist of both matte and shimmer finishes for $60. It contains twenty new, limited edition shades. I am huge fan of Urban Decay because most of their eyeshadows feel buttery and soft. This palette is a hit or miss for some of the colors. The matte finishes were great (some are a bit powdery, but for most part they are on point), but for the shimmer shades, there were some that have fall outs due to too much glitter. Even though a lot of people think that Vice 3 is the worst of the three, I still like some of the colors in this palette.

The packaging is not my favorite because it attracts a lot of finger prints as you can see from the picture below....

It comes with a bag to fit your palette.

Here are the colors inside the palette:

My favorite shades are:

All in all, I don't regret buying it because I love these dark colors for Fall. It is definitely a fun palette to own if you don't have anything like this already.

Another product I want to talk about is the Marc Jacob Perfection Powder.

I normally use BB creams or liquid foundations and on top I like to apply the powder to give it a more matte finish. The powder is so fine when you apply it to your face that it doesn't look cakey nor does it make your face look white. Remember, this is mostly to set your makeup not to absorb the oil on your face. It is an expensive splurge, but for me, I like then sheer coverage.

The packaging is very pretty and sleek. I also like the sponge and the big mirror in the compact.

If you like the matte finish look, I would say give this a try, you may like it.

Until next time,

stay beautiful, healthy, and inspired.

<3 <3 <3

Younique 3D Fiber for thick, long lashes

2014-08-04T23:28:00.002-07:00

Hello Everyone,

Here is a product that will give you those thick, long lashes you wish you were born with. Having long lashes really makes a difference in your appearance! I have been getting lash extensions for almost two years and I need to give them a rest. With lash extensions, not only do you need to upkeep them every 2-3 weeks, but it can get very expensive. An alternative is to use the 3D fiber to create that effect.

Younique is known for their amazing 3D fiber that enhance your lashes. Too Faced also came out with fiber lash, but the fiber is white, whereas Younique is black which works so much better. The only thing I don't like is the clumping, however, you can use a clean wand to separate the lashes. I know it is a bit pricy but the result is amazing comparing to the price for lash extensions. You can buy them at my virtual store: https://www.youniqueproducts.com/DianaSu/party/403018/view

Here is the packaging for the product:
Is it just me or does the packaging reminds you of a glasses case? At least I know the product is nicely protected.

Before and after pictures:

Try it out for yourself and let me know your thoughts!
If you are still contemplating to buy or not, I would also suggest to google reviews on this product and hopefully that would help you make up your mind. =)

Until next time,
stay healthy, beautiful, and inspired.

<3 <3 <3

City Cosmetic- City Lip Plumper Review

2014-07-28T23:49:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone,

Who wants large luscious lips? Girls, we all know there are so many lip plumpers that claim it will enhance your lips, but does it work all day? I just found a lip plumper that works for 4-6 hours and if you use it continuously, it will provide more long term results. Not only will it plump up your lips, it also stimulates natural collagen production with continued used to reduce fine lines and wrinkles. Good Housekeeping also claim this as the most effective lip plumper on the market.

City Lip will make your lips fuller within 5-10 minutes without pain or any tingling sensation. I apply this at night before I go to bed so in the morning my lips are soft and plump. There are seven different colors plus a clear one for those who wants to wear lipsticks on top. If you choose to wear a lipstick on top of the lip gloss, I would wait five minutes before applying. Right now by using the code CITYLOVE, you can get 30% off. The color lip glosses are $40 and the clear one is $35 so it is better to get it with a discount. (FYI- I am not affiliated nor do I sell this product. I just want to give my reviews and information about it)

If you want to be adventurous, give this product a try.

Here are my lips before:

After 2 days:

I am not saying you lips will look like Angelina Jolies', but it will plump your lips by 3mm.

Until next time,

stay healthy, beautiful, and inspired.

<3 <3 <3

Wedding planning: Colors and theme of the wedding!

2014-07-08T20:24:00.001-07:00

Hello Everyone,

I am back from my hiatus and ready to dive right back into planning my wedding. Wedding planning can be hectic, but I truly believe it can also be fun and memorable. You just need to make sure to give yourself enough time and save lots of money. Simple right? Yeah... I didn't realized how expensive a wedding can be until I started creating a checklist.

There are many websites that offer great wedding planning applications instead of hiring a wedding planner. Who needs a wedding planner these days? First, make a checklist of what you want to do every month until the day of the wedding and give yourself a budget.

The most important step is to secure the venue with the date you want as early as possible. We have already put down the deposit to secure the date for our venue.... Done! Check! Yay!

For us, it is very important to get a photographer that knows our style. We found our photographer and was able to put the deposit down to secure them for the engagement photos and our wedding. Check!

What works for us is to secure all the large costly items on the list. We are still deciding on the caterers, but we will soon get there.

One of the fun part of planning the wedding is picking out the colors. I would recommend you to try different color combinations that fit both of your taste. Pick a color you will not regret.

We have our color picked out and I am ready to reveal what they are: Peach/Gold/Cream. These color suites our taste and our vintage wedding theme. Yes, I also mentioned our theme will be vintage-inspired.

Peach is a soft, happy, summer color. It also looks great with a lot of skin tones and has a "vintage feel." I can just image how nice the color will look on my bridesmaids (not my photo).

The checklist for this month is to look for a caterer, DJ, and a photo booth company.

Until next time,

stay beautiful, healthy, and inspired!

<3 <3 <3

Spring Wardrobe Favorites

2014-04-24T19:29:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone,

My closet is just screaming pink, white, and grey for Spring. The colors go so well together it makes getting ready so effortless. I hate having to put a lot of thought into what I wear. One way to prevent that is to buy neutral colors or stick with black and white which is what I like to do these days. As I get older, I like my life to be less complicated and this goes the same with my wardrobe now. I used to like every color of the rainbow, but now I like to stick with the basics, except for my nail polish (I like to wear bright color sometimes).

I love outfits that I can dress up or down with a blazer or a big sweater. Zara is my favorite place to shop and they always make great clothes/shoes that are within reasonable price.

Anyway, here is what I have been wearing a lot during my casual day out- shorts, simple plain t-shirt, and ankle boots. Normally, I would wear my black Anne Taylor ankle boots, but I really like these boots that I just got from Zara. I can't wait to wear them.

To make this outfit more suitable for a casual night out, I put on my black blazer from Zara and add some accessories to the outfit. I like styles that doesn't take a lot of effort, but looks like it does.

Boots: Zara
Shirt: A&F
Shorts: A&F
Nail Polish: Romper Room and Cascade Cool

Until next time,
stay healthy, beautiful, and inspired.

Have a great night!
<3 <3 <3

Wedding Planning: Finding a good photographer

2014-04-05T00:54:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone,

Another progress made! We have found our photographers for the engagement and wedding pictures.
Pictures can capture moments that we would otherwise forget so it's important to make sure to find professional experienced photographers that you can rely on to make your special day last forever. Photographers who are passionate and share the same interest as you makes the shoot that much more memorable.
I am happy to say we have two great, creative photographers for the wedding. We love their work and they understand our style. I have known them from a friend's wedding about four years ago and I am happy that they are doing very well with their business. I will not post who they are until after our engagement photos (trust me, they are fun to work with).

In the meantime, I am still looking through bridal magazines for ideas and of course, my ideal wedding dress.

While I am looking through the bridal magazines, my fiance was being very helpful.... looking through gun magazines... SMH.

Sorry for not being able to give away our photographer's name, but we will soon!!

Until next time,

Stay healthy, beautiful, and inspired.

<3 <3 <3

Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Bright Transformer SPF35

2014-03-27T23:17:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone,

Yes, I am still going to focus majority of my blog on how I am planning my wedding, but I can't resist not talking about makeup. I love trying new products and be able to give my opinion on what I think is worth your money. The product I am going to review today may not be sold in the US which is a bummer. I bought this during my trip to Japan because I have not seen it in any of the drugstores in America. We have the Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser which have gotten a lot of good and bad reviews. Most of the negative reviews said it is too greasy or thick.

Maybelline, besides L'Oreal, is my favorite drugstore makeup brand and they have been doing really well with all their new products. What I like about the Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Bright is it has SPF 35. This comes in handy especially when we are approaching summer and strong SPF is recommended to keep your skin looking healthy.

The packaging is cute (22ml) with a twist on cap. The formula is a bit thick but don't be scared, it is easy to blend.

It has some fine shimmer to create a glow-y complexion.

I have worn this underneath my makeup and I can see why this product is very popular. It does display a dewy affect that brightens my skin. Sometimes when I don't feel like wearing makeup, I will just wear this product to give my face a luminous glow.

Waking up in the morning with dry, dull skin can be a pain in the butt .....

After applying three pea-size amount all over my face it does me look more awake. No make-up is needed for lazy days like this.

Is this worth buying? If you don't have a lot of blemish to cover up, this will help give you that extra hmph! Not an essential in your makeup kit unless you want to try it. This does not provide coverage, only gives you a slight glow. I forgot how much I paid for this, but I don't regret buying it.

Until next time,

Stay healthy, beautiful, and inspired.

<3 <3 <3

First step for planning a wedding: Relax and start looking for a wedding venue

2014-03-10T23:42:00.001-07:00

Hello Everyone,

How hard is it to look for a wedding venue? Well, it depends on what you want and what is within your budget. I would say look at as many places as you can. Do not settle on the first one you see. The hardest thing is making time to go there and see it for yourself. Many times we think the place looks nice in pictures but we end up being disappointed.

Knowing what you want makes it a bit easier. We want to make a memorable experience for our guests and also to reflect who we are as a couple. Internet and by word of mouth from friends are the best way to go about looking for venues. I am so happy that my fiance wants to help plan the wedding with me, such a sweet man he is (in a Yoda voice). Don't let the stress of planning wear you down... sip some tea, relax, and look through Pinterest for some great ideas like me.

Another idea is to start keeping track of "things" you need to do if you are not going to hire a wedding planner like us. There are a lot of great wedding apps for ipads and iphones, but the one I like to use is called The Knot. Not only is it a wedding blog for us, it also helps us keep track of the number of guests, a checklist of to-dos, etc.

Taking it one day at a time until the big day!

Until next time,

stay healthy, beautiful, and inspired.

<3 <3 <3

Starting a new chapter of my life....

2014-03-03T22:45:00.001-08:00

Hello Everyone,

Let's brush some of the dust off this blog.
It's been quite some time since my last post. A lot has happened during the past year and I am re-focusing my energy to sharing my future with my fiancé. Yes, my fiancé. That's right, I am getting married!

My blog will now be more about "how to plan your own wedding." Paying for a wedding planner is expensive but if you can afford one go for it. Couples who planned their own wedding makes the experience more memorable. Call me crazy, but I am looking forward to the stress of booking a venue, looking for a wedding dress, planning out the details, debating about the colors, etc All in all, it will be worth it in the end.
Throughout this journey, there will be lessons learned and also advice given by friends which I will include in my blog.

Until next time,
Stay healthy, beautiful, an inspired.

<3 <3 <3

Drugstore Haul: NEW L'Oreal LeMatte Colour Riche, Maybelline Baby Lips Electro & Dr Rescue Lip Balm review

2013-10-19T00:05:00.001-07:00

Hello Everyone,

Yes, I have been MIA and now I am just slowly getting back to working on my blog. Yay!

Of course my favorite place in the drugstore is the makeup aisle and I had to pickup "some" new products to try. I have tried these products for a few days and I have nothing bad to say about them.

I am a big fan of Maybelline Baby Lips and for them to come out with the Electro lip balm and the medicated Dr Rescue I couldn't help myself. I only picked up three out of the five colors from this collection because the neon green (Minty Sheer) and neon yellow (Fierce n Tangy) are both clear. These are great quick fixes if you don't want to put on too much makeup and you are on the go. Although these are not the most hydrating lip treatment, they are fun to collect. Personally, I like them and they work for me.

The Dr Rescue Medicated Lip Balms are great to use for winter. I like the cool freshness of the menthol on my lips. They do provide a nice natural color and decent moisture for your lips. From this collection, I only picked up Pink Me Up and Soothing Sorbet and they are both great colors.

Here are swatches to show how sheer these lip balms are:

For L'Oreal, here is the new LeMatte Colour Riche Lip Color in Matte For Me. La Matte collection has a flattering matte finish. They have a bit of a sheen and don't accentuate the dryness on your lips which is a double plus in my book!

Here is how it looks on:

The color is very opaque and I didn't have to apply too much to get an intense color.

My other favorites for Fall are the L'Oreal infallible eyeshadows in Amber Rush, Eternal Sunshine, and Smoldering Plum. These pigments last all day and are very comparable to high-ends. You will get your money's worth with these eyeshadow pigments.

Current favorite drugstore gel eyeliner is the L'Oreal Infallible 24H in blackest black. It goes on so smooth and makes it easy for you to create the perfect "winged" eyeliner. Two thumbs up!

Until next time,

stay healthy, beautiful, and inspired.

Have a great night!

<3 <3 <3

My Updated Makeup Essentials

2013-09-17T00:25:00.000-07:00

Hello My Fellow Makeup Lovers!

I miss the life of being a Makeup Artist.... I remember carrying my makeup kit everywhere, rushing to photo shoots, meeting new people, and attending fashion shows. I am not even sure how I even did all of that as a hobby.... but it was fun while it lasted.

It feels like years since I last touched my makeup kit. Heck, I hardly even put on makeup anymore and if I do, I keep it to a minimal. Just playing with my makeup recently brought back a lot of memories.

Here are some of my favorite products and the products that I used to create the look I have below:
Laneige White Star Essence- face moisturizer (plus I use a light SPF underneath the moisturizer)
Spackle by Laura Geller- Tinted under make-up primer (As you can tell, I have used up a lot)

Neutrogena Makeup Remover

Maybelline Fit Me foundation (May cause breakout for some people)

Maybelline eyeshadow quad in Modern Metallic

NYC- Sunny bronzer

Maybelline Age Rewind concealer

L'Oreal True Match setting powder

Victoria's Secret Sheer Blush Creme

Urban Decay Flushed

Rimmel eyebrow pencil in #2 shade
Ardell brow sculpting gel

Buxom in the shade Swinger

Maybelline Master Drama in Midnight Master (to create the wing)

Before picture without makeup:

After:

Most people ask me how do I keep my skin looking so healthy.... drink lots of water and wear SPF!!!

Until next time,

stay healthy, beautiful, and inspired.

Have a great night!

<3 <3 <3