THE WEEKEND DIARY

Thank you Jess!

2011-12-13T13:19:00.000-08:00

I don't know what it is about glittery things but it's just so hard to take my eyes off of them! And next semester, I can start strutting around campus with this fabulous laptop case from my friend Jess. I wish I can also just use this as a clutch, haha I don't know if you can tell from the photos but they gold is more of a muted gold than like a canary yellow color so it doesn't look like a sensory overload with all the sparkle.

The Birch Box Monthly Service

2011-12-13T09:43:00.000-08:00

What is "The Birch Box" ?

The Birch box is a monthly beauty delivery service (think of it like a magazine) for just $10 a month with free shipping! Every month you get one box filled with four to five of any beauty related products for you to try!

It features products from renown brands such as: Bare Minerals, Elizabeth Arden, Guerlain, Deborah Lippmann, Khiel's, Korres, NARS, Philosophy, Oscar Blandi, Salvatore Ferragamo, Shu Uemura, Stila, Smashbox, Zoya, and so much more! Every month will be a little surprise, I cannot wait for my first box!

For more info, just click on the photo above which will take you to my referral link, enjoy :)

Product Review: Urban Decay Naked2 Palette

2011-12-12T16:31:00.000-08:00

Naked2 palette on top & Naked palette on the bottom without flash under natural sunlight

Naked2 Palette

Left to right,

Foxy, Half Baked, Bootycall, Chopper, Tease, Snakebite, Suspect, Pistol, Verve, YDK, Busted, Blackout

First Naked palette

Left to right,

Virgin, Sin, Naked, Sidecar, Buck, Half Baked, Smog, Darkhorse, Toasted, Hustle, Creep, Gunmetal

Naked2 palette on top & Naked palette on the bottom without flash under flash

Naked2 Palette

Left to right,

Foxy, Half Baked, Bootycall, Chopper, Tease, Snakebite, Suspect, Pistol, Verve, YDK, Busted, Blackout

First Naked palette

Left to right,

Virgin, Sin, Naked, Sidecar, Buck, Half Baked, Smog, Darkhorse, Toasted, Hustle, Creep, Gunmetal

Left to right, top: Foxy, Half Baked, Bootycall, Chopper, Tease, Snakebite

bottom: Suspect, Pistol, Verve, YDK, Busted, Blackout under room lighting

Left to right, top: Foxy, Half Baked, Bootycall, Chopper, Tease, Snakebite

bottom: Suspect, Pistol, Verve, YDK, Busted, Blackout under flash

Left to right, top: Foxy, Half Baked, Bootycall, Chopper, Tease, Snakebite

bottom: Suspect, Pistol, Verve, YDK, Busted, Blackout under natural sun light

I was so, so excited to pick up my Urban Decay Naked2 palette at the mailroom today! I already have the first Naked palette, so I guess you could say I kind of gave in to the hype. It came with a pretty lip gloss in the color Naked and a double-sided brush that feels synthetic and stiff, almost like a concealer brush more than an eyeshadow or a blending brush.

Personally, I like that this palette has a matte ivory color which reminds me of the Vanilla eyeshadow I usually use from M.A.C., it would make a nice highlight under the eyebrows without looking like you have too much shimmer on your face when you do your full eye make-up. I've heard that there were a lot more matte colors for the Naked2 but I only really see three (Foxy, Tease, & Blackout)... so that was slightly disappointing :(

The texture of the other eyeshadows are also very similar to the first palette, most with a velvety shimmer finish and few with pieces of fine glitter. I think that the Naked2 palette definitely does have more cool toned eyeshadows as opposed to the first one which features a lot of warmer, peachy toned colors like many other Youtube reviews have mentioned before.

Overall, I think the Naked2 palette will come in more handy for me because it has less of the eyeshadows with those tiny glitter specks (I don't like to deal with the glitter fall out on my cheeks from colors like Sidecar, Creep, and Chopper). The case also feels more travel-ready because the tin box closes securely compared to the flimsy magnetic flap the original Naked palette packaging. I'll definitely be switching out the dual ended brush from Naked2 with the dual ended eyeliner my Naked palette came with because you can never forget about eyeliners!

Shoes by Chiara Ferragni

2011-12-12T11:12:00.000-08:00

(Photo source: Song of Style)

After seeing these pair of Chiara Ferragni ankle boots on Song of Style I was intrigued by the simple, get such a unique design. When I first saw this post last December, I thought they would make a good item to have in your wardrobe to dress up any bland outfit but didn't really think it was for me since I don't really wear heels. I'm almost 5'6" and I feel like heels that are above 4-inches in height just make me look too tall... However, after seeing the latest post on The Blonde Salad about her shoes I have fallen in love once again! I don't care what anyone says about me towering above all the other short Asians around here, I must find a pair of these for me!

(Photo source: The Blonde Salad)

I think the gradient effect on the "bone-esque" heel is what makes this shoe so special, I absolutely love it!

Product Review: Chanel Perfection Lumière in Beige 40

2011-12-12T06:00:00.000-08:00

With flash

Natural sunlight

Room lighting

Close up under a room light, wow you can see my lip piercing so clearly.. I never wear it anymore though.

Over Thanksgiving break, I stopped by the Chanel counter in Nordstrom to try out the new "Perfection Lumière Long-Wear Flawless Fluid Makeup SPF 10" (whew, such a long name). I was so excited when I got it because I've never tried their foundations and felt almost pampered even before I tried it on.

The lady at the counter matched my color without even putting it on my face, but she was absolutely right! I am about an NC 30 for M.A.C. and she suggested the color Beige 40 for me. I have mixed feelings about this because I don't know if I really like it or not. I don't think that this is a very good "every-day" type of foundation but it would definitely make a nice "going-out" foundation.

PROS:

1. This is definitely long-lasting, from the moment I put it on in the morning up until I take it off at night it stayed on just the way it looked in the morning (for about 8 good hours)

2. It gives you a flawless, full coverage

3. I have trouble with a very oily T-zone & I've noticed that this foundation keeps my face relatively matte all day long

4. Smells amazing!

5. Applies well, very smooth & evenly

6. Has SPF to protect you from the sun

7. A little goes a long way

CONS:

1. Even with a thin layer, foundation looks heavy/cakey (especially in the sunlight)

2. May be a little pricey for someone on a budget ($55)

I guess my pros & cons kind of helps you see that this foundation is pretty much perfect, but the deal breaker for me is that this looks a little cakey! I thought it would get better throughout the day but it stayed almost the same. I don't think it's so noticeable if you were to take photos, go out at night, or use it for special occasions where you would need an absolutely flawless look. However, personally for me, I wanted a medium coverage foundation with more of a natural, barely-there look. I guess I'll just be sticking to my Make Up Forever HD foundation for now!

P.S. I topped this foundation with a thin layer of M.A.C.'s Mineralized Skinfinish Natural in Medium Deep in the photos.

I hope you guys found this helpful, I want to do more reviews on beauty products I've tried to help you save your money and time before you go out and buy them! So please let me know how I'm doing :) Thank you!

Music: Frank Ocean - American Wedding

2011-12-11T22:52:00.000-08:00

Frank Ocean - American Wedding

Album: nostalgia, ULTRA.

The first thing that caught my attention was the familiar sound of Hotel California. I like songs that sample old, classic songs and this is definitely not an exception. I love Frank Ocean's lazy and seductive sound, he has a distinct voice I like.

What's In My Bag?

2011-12-11T07:35:00.000-08:00

I've been seeing this kind of post a lot on Youtube & Tumblr lately, so I figured I'd make on myself for all of you nosy viewers out there like me, hehe. I don't carry anything so different from what anyone else would carry so I don't expect you guys to be mind-blown over the content of my going-out bag.

These are some things that are always in my bag that I grab when I'm about to leave the apartment to go out and about the town.

I didn't feel like it was necessary to list the details of all the little things in my bag but if some of you are interested, I will update this post with a list! Just comment below & let me know :)

Early Gift-Exchange & De-stressing with Snow

2011-12-10T14:17:00.000-08:00

A mound of snow on campus for stressed students to play with during finals week

Yay for the amazing Keurig machine!!

Once every month, our school puts on an event open to the whole school just for fun and this month's event was having snow on campus (it RARELY if ever, snows in the part of California I go to school in) and handing out free Krispy Kreme donuts, hot chocolate, apple cider, and coffee. I wanted to stop by to check out the snow, it wasn't as great as I hoped but it was still nice to see all the people who came out to just hang out before Finals week starts.

Afterwards, we decided to try out my new Keurig machine that Josh gave me for Christmas. I LOVE IT. We have one at home and I've been so in love with it since I first saw it during Thanksgiving break when I went home.

I'm so, so excited to use this every morning for coffee & tea! This is so amazing, I can use it during the summer to make cold ice-tea as well, and the best part is that it only takes less than 2 minutes for the whole process from brewing to dripping the coffee/tea into your cup!!

Crab Cakes & Tomato Alfredo Sauce Pasta

2011-12-10T14:06:00.000-08:00

Panko bread crumbs, egg, lump crab meat, onions, red bell pepper, jalepeno, and green onions

Shrimp, mushrooms, whole wheat pasta, parmesan cheese, and tomato alfredo sauce

Every Friday, I try to cook something nice for dinner for me and my boyfriend. He said he was craving shrimp & crab so I tried to put together something that compliments each other and came up with tomato alfredo sauce pasta with shrimp & mushrooms with crispy crab cakes. I figured it would be something like a chicken parmigiana but a seafood version!

Current Obsession: Trench Coats

2011-12-05T22:56:00.000-08:00

Eva Longoria

Emma Watson

Kate Beckinsale

Kim Kardashian

Victoria Beckham

(Photos from Google Images)

I think that there is a right kind of trench coat to flatter almost any type of body-shape. Personally I like the cropped or up-to-the-waist length ones, but I love how these celebrities can pull off the longer ones and still look thin!

In my opinion, trench coats are very versatile, you don't always have to save them for a rainy day. Since it's almost winter, there are a ton of ways to dress them up or down. You can wear it with a fancy dress underneath with heels or just with some flats, skinny jeans, and a comfy top... and you can never go wrong by throwing in a cute scarf as well!

Christmas 2011 Wish-list!

2011-12-05T18:45:00.000-08:00

I didn't really have an extensive list of things on my wish-list (some unlisted items are obviously WAY beyond my budget), but as I start thinking about some of the things I like and looking around for holiday sales I've been noticing a few more things to add to my "wish-list."

Today, I came across a list of Deborah Lippmann nail lacquers and I'm AMAZED at the colors! They're all so pretty, glittery, and just stunning, I want them all, haha!

Sigma brush set in Eye Kit ($52)

The Northface Denali jacket in Black & Coral ($165)

Deborah Lippman nail lacquers in Rolex Rose Gold & Bring on the Bling ($16-20)

Deborah Lippmann nail lacquers in Across the Universe, Don't Tell Mama, and Today was a Fairytale ($16-20)

Burberry giant check print scarf ($325)

Burberry check print flats ($250)

KidRobot plush toys ($25 each)

Current Obsession: The Zara Gold Sequin Clutch

2011-12-05T05:36:00.000-08:00

(Pictures from: one two three)

I've been seeing this sequined clutch all over Tumblr but never really knew where it was from until I randomly ran into it at Zara's online store. So after a long debate with myself, when I finally decided to purchase this item online I found out it was sold out.... What a bummer! I hope to run into this someday when I'm at the store, which seems very unlikely at this point :(

A Fancy Outing at the Melting Pot

2011-12-03T22:20:00.000-08:00

Josh & I went to the Melting Pot in Sacramento today, I think he was going to surprise me with it but ended up just telling me a few days before which had me excited and all throughout the whole week! I originally planned to take him to La Fondue in Saratoga for his birthday and this was a nice preview to what I have been missing out for the last 4 years (since the last time I had this type of food was for my 17th birthday).

I also suck at keeping surprises so I "accidentally" ended up telling him about my plan for his birthday, haha. Anyways, we decided to take a bit more time getting ready today for our some-what romantic/fancy dinner date :)

Cheese fondue for appetizer (I forgot the name, but it's the seasonal one with bacon!)

Main course with the Mojo broth

Dessert with the Cookies 'N Cream Marshmallow Dream

Current Obsession: Fur Trim Coats & Collars

2011-12-02T13:30:00.000-08:00

Lately I've been so into the whole (faux, of course) fur look. I'm not so sure if I could pull it off since I feel like fur adds a lot of volume to your outfit, it wouldn't really flatter someone who wasn't on the thinner side because it could make you look bulkier... But nonetheless, I love the look of these outfits and the hint of luxury these fur collars & fur trimmed coats add to any wardrobe!

And coincidentally, all of the blogger's faux fur collars are from H&M.

(P.S. you can click on the images for the source of origin)

(Tanjamrk & faux fur collar from H&M)

(Aimee Song & faux fur collar from H&M)

(Frida & faux fur collar from H&M)

(Bee & faux fur collar fro H&M; also my favorite look!)

Some more looks from the runway:

Joseph Altuzarra

Vera Wang

Elie Tahari

And lastly, some of my favorite celebrities with the furry adornments:
(Source: Google Images)

Amber Rose

Kim Kardashian

Rihanna

My Thoughts On: Negativity

2011-12-01T23:06:00.000-08:00

After watching this episode of Bartolosophy (Youtube: BartKwan), I realized how true the underlying idea of this mini-spiel was. The concept of this kind of behavior, in my belief, arises from the act of putting other people down to make yourself feel better. No matter how complicated a situation may be, you can always, always narrow it down to this simple concept because in the end, why would you so passionately obsess over someone else's flaws?

I can say this with confidence because I too have been guilty with this kind of mentality. Sometimes, I'll look at celebrities with godly figures and just think to myself "well at least I can eat a piece of bacon without having to fear the life of my career tumbling down upon me." It may be simple as that, but the affect it has on me is always the same: relieving, gratifying, and most importantly temporary. I think that harboring these negative thoughts only help you feel good about yourself, your life, and your current situation for a short amount of time and once you realize that you're not really what you've made yourself seem to be, you channel that frustration towards being spiteful & jealous.

Sometimes, these thoughts may not be as childish as my thoughts of bacon but more intense like people who pick on other people for the littlest things that won't ever matter to them with only reasons like "that's just annoying." Obviously you care, you care enough to think & obsess over them or else you wouldn't be wasting the least bit of your energy on them. I think the hardest part is getting yourself to admit what is really going on. What good does it do to you by pointing out other people's flaws without the genuine intent of helping them fix it for the good of themselves? It makes you feel good, it makes you feel good because you've pointed out someone else's flaw that you probably don't think you have as well and evidently you've implied that you're better than them because you have one less flaw.

To me this is so juvenile, but at the same time I know I can't preach so much about it because I do it myself all the time, in my head. I know that when I don't have anything nice to say, it's better for me to just say nothing at all because for me, if I don't genuinely care about someone enough, I'm not going to waste my time, energy, and risk being in an uncomfortable situation with someone by pointing what I think they're doing wrong. I've always tried to be more careful about these things because I know that the way to feel better about yourself isn't through putting other's below you, but it's about allowing others to see you for who you are; that way when they accept you for who you are, you'll know it's genuine.

So I think overall, your positive mindset is really important in leading a truly healthy, stress-free life. Always look to yourself for answers first before you go out and blame others & start pointing fingers because there's always something you can do to uplift your spirit. It's important to really take control of your life instead of letting others do the driving for you, even if it's easy to just sit on the passenger's seat.

If you found this absolutely useless and untrue, you must be perfect.

On a Hunt for Satchels & Top Handle Bags

2011-11-30T23:30:00.000-08:00

Lately I've been thinking more and more about a bigger purse that I can carry around my elbows. I know what people say about top handle purses and how much of a pain and a nuisance it can be when walking around because you don't have enough hands to hold everything... But despite the cons, I've been looking for a simple and versatile bag for the new season.

I love my Marc by Marc Jacobs cross-body bag but sometimes I feel like I need a bigger bag to carry more things in when I am out and about. I've been debating over the color I want, trying to stay away from black and since I already have one. I've been into anything from light taupe-y to camel and here is a break down of what I found:

(Left to right)

1. Kate Spade New York, 'Cobble-Hill Leslie' Satchel in Dark Viola ($280 on sale!)

2. Melie Bianco, 'Lorraine' Satchel in Saddle ($110)

3. Balenciaga, City bag in Papyrus ($1,545)

(Left to right)

1. Marc by Marc Jacobs, Classic Q Shop Girl Tote in Stone ($498)

2. Alexander Wang, Rocco duffle in Granite ($875)

The last two is really just something I like, the website says the Rocco bag is in granite, which I assume to be more gray-ish, but looks pretty sea-foam green to me.. I really like that color! I've also been keeping an eye on a cute tote for school and I really like this Marc by Marc Jacobs one but I don't know if I'd carry it in this ivory color since I'm too afraid I'll get it dirty.

Anyways, a girl can dream & until I find the bag of my dreams I'll be on the look out!

Victoria's Secret Fashion Show 2011

2011-11-29T22:27:00.000-08:00

The $2.5 Million bra worn by Miranda Kerr

Another amazing fashion show put on by Victoria's Secret Angels, I feel like an hour is not enough for fans to gawk over all the glitz and glam as well as the beautiful models! As much as I'd like to criticize the Angels for being anorexic and what not to make myself feel better, honestly, I don't know how they keep that kind of body.. They're extremely thin but still looks toned, tanned, and healthy (except for a select few) and the mysterious thing is the fact that they still have enough to fill the outfits they're wearing!

Tonight, I was amazed once again by how gorgeous Miranda looked after having a baby and how exotic Adriana looks with dark hair and such fair blue eyes. Alessandra used to be my favorite, but now it's so hard to pick just one, I think they're all so gorgeous!

Outfit of the Day

2011-11-29T20:48:00.000-08:00

GAP sweater, Seven for all Mankind skinnies, Forever 21 necklace, random kitten heeled boots, black tote, & YSL Volupte Sheer Candy in Mouthwatering Berry.

I really wish I could just post my outfits instead of trying to find similar things on Polyvore but I suck at taking those effortless photos and I think I would just feel awkward posing for them anyways... maybe someday I'll get Josh to help me, hehe :)

Thanksgiving Break Re-Cap

2011-11-29T05:24:00.000-08:00

I spent most of my Thanksgiving break at home this year with my mom since my dad was away for a business trip, I figured she'd like my company instead of having to be alone even when the kids are back home from school. It was refreshing get-away from school, even if it was just for a week.

Although Josh was away visiting his family, he made it a point to video-chat every night! This year's Black Friday shopping wasn't as exciting, in fact, I didn't even go. I had originally planned to but I realized staying up until 4am to browse the mall wasn't worth feeling tired and waiting in the long lines for... However, I did pick up a few things at the mall later that day.

This year, we celebrated Thanksgiving at my cousin's place with both of their families. I haven't seen their kids in a while, so I was super excited to see how much they've grown! As they get older, I started to realize that the boys end up sticking together while me and my cousin Annemarie just talked about school and make-up, haha.

The annual Thanksgiving potluck I had looked forward for so much this year didn't happen with my group of friends from high school for various reasons, but we did manage to plan a little get-together at Flame's Bar & Grill downtown for those of us who didn't have other plans Saturday. It was so, so good seeing my friends and just catching up over some good food! We also ran into another group of friends so our table ended up become so crowded, but I loved being able to see everyone at once. Hopefully, our Christmas potluck will happen this year or else I'd be really disappointed :(

My Thoughts On: My HTC Droid Incredible

2011-11-27T11:40:00.000-08:00

This phone, I have so much to say I don't even know where to begin..

When I first got this phone almost two years ago, I was beyond ecstatic. I was debating between this or the Blackberry, but ended up getting this because of it's sleek iPhone-esque design and all the cool touch screen features. So against one of my friend's warning about the poor quality of HTC phones, I decided to commit to the HTC Droid Incredible with a new 2-year contract.

Throughout the 2 years, we've been through so much. I had this phone replaced once because I dropped it into a toilet. After that I got myself a protective case that helped the phone indure my brutal treatment for a few months until one last drop made the back of the cover fall off and get lost amidst the fallen leaves somewhere last fall. Then it took on some more man-handling and finally, the screen cracked near the bottom when I sat on it once.

But those aren't the reasons why I hate this phone so much (sometimes with a burning passion to just chuck it to the wall). Through the 2 years I've had this phone, it has tested and toyed with my patience to the point of no return. This phone is... INCREDIBLY ANNOYING, it freezes on me all the time (especially when I need to make important & urgent calls), tells me that my storage space is too full to even open my text messages even though I only have like 35 pictures and 15 apps (when all my iPhone friends keep text messages from years ago, with 100s of pictures, and another handful of useless & random apps), the camera requires basically a tripod for a good photo before sending you blind because of it's overly powerful flash (although it claims to have a better quality than the iPhone, it still sucks that if you don't keep your hands absolutely still, you'll get a blurry picture anyways).

So come this January, I will be switching over to the OTHER SIDE where the grass is greener and the sky is blue; iPhone.

New Hair, Back to Black!

2011-11-27T01:53:00.000-08:00

The Korean hair salon my mom goes to was having a 50% off holiday sale so I decided to go get my hair coated again to help get rid of the color difference from my old color growing out. I also got my bangs cut and some trim, I hate that my hair seems so much shorter but I guess I'm glad that all the dead ends are gone, gone, gone!

I'm Still a Cat Lady

2011-11-20T18:31:00.000-08:00

This puppy is undeniably adorable and I couldn't keep my eyes off of him but I must say, I still want a kitty to gawk over :( But I guess if the puppy looked like this one, I wouldn't mind having one as well, hehe. Gosh, I've really been in the mood for a cute pet.. too bad I don't really have the time, money, and a place to keep one.. wahhhh.

ΑΦΩ Fall 2011 Activation: Team Titus

2011-11-20T02:00:00.000-08:00

After nine weeks of pledging, our new babies finally finished their last day today and now have been added to our fraternity officially, yay! Activation is always pretty exciting, well except for the "actual" event, because we get to give gifts, take pictures, and reunite with a lot of alumni.

Titus & Michelle came up to meet the new ones and celebrate with us as usual and so did Ishi this semester.

The picture on the left is of us, Team Titus, after we presented this secret surprise for Titus :)

As our advisor said to us "now he's name has been immortalized into a t-shirt," haha, damn right! We're much more than just a family, we're a team. We stick up for each other, look after one another, and be there whenever someone needs a shoulder to cry on.

I don't want to sound so exclusive but I guess in a way we kind of are. It's been a privilege to be able to have met so many genuine people who care about you. So honestly, when people have negative things to say about it, it's probably because they feel excluded in some way so they like to mock it.

I just hope that in the future, our little ones can continue the traditions and carry on the attitude of speaking up when something is wrong, looking out for each other, taking the initiative to do the right thing even when no one else is willing, and most importantly, remembering to always have fun and look for the positive things in any situation!

It's our job as their predecessors to instill this type of mentality and I hope that I can as well as everyone else from my generation do so. It would be such a shame to see the line turn into anything else.

My Lazy Day Go-to Products

2011-11-18T14:33:00.000-08:00

1. Covergirl LashBlast Volume waterproof mascara (Very Black)

2.Rimmel Professional Eyebrow pencil (001 Dark Brown)

3. L'Oreal Lineur Intense (Carbon Black)

4. Revlon Colorstay eyeliner (Black)

5. Benefit's Some Kind-A Gorgeous (Medium)

6. M.A.C. Mineralized Skinfinish Natural (Medium Dark)

7. M.A.C. Blushcreme (Ladyblush)

8. Olay Complete w/ SPF 15

9. Yves Saint Laurent Volupte Sheer Candy (Succulent Pomegranate)

10. Ardell heated eyelash curler

Thank You Sarah!

2011-11-16T16:48:00.000-08:00

Thank you to my little Sarah for getting me this crew neck with such cute (& glittery) letters just in time for the weather to get colder, I'll be wearing this often! I just hope I don't get them dirty all the time since they're so white, hehe.