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My Experience Filing An AliExpress Dispute

2015-08-10T10:46:00.002-07:00

This post will outline my experience with AliExpress's Buyer Protection program. There will be detailed pictures of the full timeline at the end.

For anyone who doesn't know, AliExpress is like a middleman. They mediate transactions between a seller/supplier and a buyer to ensure that both parties are protected and treated fairly. AliExpress has become well known as a place to purchase affordable brand name dupes. Most sellers on their website are based in China and ordering items from China can be hit or miss. You never know what you're truly buying because sellers will usually use stock photos from the brand that they are copying instead of genuine product photos. I love AliExpress for the fact that customers can post pictures with their reviews so if you look through the feedback section of a product, you'll be able to find real photos of the product you'll be receiving.

Most people are skeptical about joining and ordering off of AliExpress, but I would say that it is as safe as ordering off eBay. I've read many bad reviews about AliExpress, but I must say that I think the bad experiences could have been avoided with smart shopping knowledge. Personally, I usually buy clothing items or accessories and I limit my spending to under $20 an item. AVOID technology or electronics! You're just asking for trouble. Most bad reviews complain that they've spent hundreds on electronics only to receive a cheap dud or not having received anything at all. In the case where you are not happy with your purchase or feel like you've been scammed, you can file a dispute against the seller which AliExpress will mediate if you don't reach an agreement.

I've seen many older complaints that AliExpress always sides with the seller and refuse to give refunds. This may have been the case in the past, I can't say for sure. However, in my recent experience, I found that they were fair and ruled in my favor. I think that if they want to thrive in a consumer market, they have to improve their reputation and create a just image.

Now onto the core of this post:

There are many kinds of people in this world. On AliExpress, there are those who believe in customer service and there are those who will try to take your money by any means possible. I, of course, had the pleasure of dealing with the latter in this case.

In May of 2015, I ordered a white floral kimono from a seller on AliExpress for $6.99 USD. I was not satisfied with the product I received because it was defected. Alterations are quite expensive where I live and return shipping would have costed $8. It's completely unreasonable to have to pay more than you did for an item to have it fixed or returned for a refund when it is defected. A defective item is the seller's responsibility.

Timeline

May 14, 2015. I ordered a white floral kimono cardigan. The reviews all seemed to be in order so I ordered with confidence.
June 23, 20l5. I finally received the kimono, but upon inspection, the item was clearly defective. The right side of the kimono was ~2.5 inches longer than the left. There was also a finger sized hole in the back which was stitched back together. I promptly messaged the seller about the problem. I was hoping to get sent a new one, or get a refund.
June 25, 2015. The seller finally responds, but is completely unreasonable and denies that anything is wrong with the item.
June 26, 2015. Being unable to reason with the seller, I decided to open a dispute.

Here is the photo evidence I submitted with my dispute:

June 26, 2015 - June 29, 2015. I tried negotiating with the seller for a refund, but they kept rejecting my offer and telling me to "return the cloth".
June 28, 2015. The seller tried trick me into cancelling my dispute by offering to send another kimono. YOU ONLY GET ONE DISPUTE PER ORDER! Don't be fooled! It is clearly stated on AliExpress that you get one dispute per order. If you were to cancel your dispute, you would lose your buyer protection and all of your rights to a refund. This deception was the last straw!
June 29, 2015. I escalated my dispute and ceased communication with the seller.
July 8, 2015. AliExpress replied to the dispute and informed me that they have ruled in my favor. The buyer and the seller have a few days to put in a final word before the decision is finalized.
July 14, 2015. The dispute was closed in my favor.
July 16, 2015. I received my refund.

Here are the screen shots of my dispute progress and my communications with the seller. The older communications get pushed to the bottom so I will post picture in order of what you should read first.

As you can see, the process was long and the seller was definitely frustrating to deal with. Many people would say it wasn't worth it for $7, but I couldn't let them get away with it. I was quite scared that I would lose the dispute because of all the negative reviews I saw on Google, but they were all from many years ago. I believe they have stepped up their game since then.

I hope this walk through is helpful. Happy shopping! ;)

Review: L'oreal's Voluminous Butterfly

2015-06-29T18:01:00.000-07:00

L'oreal's Voluminous Butterfly in Blackest Black (waterproof)

THE GOOD
- Holds a Curl =D! This mascara holds a curl beautifully. I would even say that my lashes did not droop at all!
- Length. I definitely get a lengthening effect from this mascara. My husband has complimented my lashes for being fluttery and he would certainly call it a butterfly effect.
- The Wand. I love the wand for my right eye. It's very easy to comb through my lashes and the small tip grabs the hard to reach hairs in the corners my eye. It is much harder to flip the brush and coat my left eyelashes. I'm afraid I'm just not that talented. I find that the tapered end does not make much of a difference so I suppose it doesn't really matter =P

On a little side not here, I have tried the newer Butterfly Intenza mascara because I liked this one so much, but the wand was an utter disappointment.

THE BAD
- Packaging. In my opinion, the metallic packaging is a little tacky and boring. The print on the tube flakes easily (like the latex on a scratch card) so the tube gains an aged look quite quickly.

THE FENCE
- The Formula. I find that the formula is quite dry right out of the tube. It can get spidery very quickly which I'm not a fan of. Usually if you comb through with quick straight up motions, I find that it's not too bad. It's like nail polish; you want to work quickly so that the nail polish doesn't get dry and gloppy creating ugly streaks.

I have yet to find a formula (waterproof or otherwise) that doesn't leave little dark smudges under my eyes.

OVERALL RATING: 4.8/5
This might be the one <3

Review: Revlon's Lash Potion

2014-04-21T15:30:00.000-07:00

Revlon's Lash Potion: Washable formula

THE GOOD
- Packaging. I'm a packaging junkie and personally, I really enjoy this packaging. The metallic twinkling design is very fitting for the potion concept. It's very refreshing compared to the uber boring packaging designs that almost all Western make-up brands have.
- Length. I find that this mascara gives me a fair bit of length.

THE BAD
- Wand. The wand of this mascara was actually the selling point of this mascara for me. I was really intrigued by the triple-groove illusionist concept. Disappointingly, the wand did not coat my lashes well. I found that it kind of just slapped on the product without separating or declumping my lashes.
- Formula. As with all mascaras, this mascara started off quite wet, but dried out a little after a few uses. The formula is very thick and somewhat dry making it very prone to clumping and spidery lashes, which is something that I can't stand. It also smudges and flakes like crazy! Flaking occurs almost immediately after applying.
The formula claims to contain amino acids that coat lashes to help them grow long and strong. Honestly, I think it's a gimmick. I find that my eyelashes are more prone to falling out after wearing this mascara.
- Couldn't hold a curl. I have somewhat short, stick straight Asian lashes so it's extremely difficult to find a mascara that will hold my curl. With this mascara, I could see my curled lashes fall quite quickly. I actually used my finger to brush my lashes up while the mascara was drying so that they wouldn't point straight down. After about 2 hours, they fell completely =(

OVERALL RATING: 2/5

Adhesive Bras

2014-04-18T15:18:00.001-07:00

Today, I'm going to be talking about bras. Specifically, I want to talk about the sticky bras that suction onto the breasts in order to provide coverage. I currently own two of them and I would like to compare them for you. Firstly, I will be covering the general pros and cons of the nude bra. I will then discuss the details of each bra (brand, where I purchased them from and for what cost, a comparison of quality).

NuBra (left), "FreeBra" (right)
Both purchased in the size A

Overall, I think that the nude bra is great. You don't have to worry about exposed straps and you can wear this bra with various different shirts and dresses. They supposedly last up to 100 wears and are easily cleaned with a rinse of cold water.

Pros:

They will definitely stay on all night if applied correctly
A great bra to wear with strapless tops or sexy back clothing
You can wear it under another bra to give yourself extra cleavage
Comfortable (or at least I think so). You don't have straps tugging everywhere

Cons:

Expensive (a great investment in my opinion)
High maintenance. You have to be careful when handling them or you'll ruin the stickiness.
A bit of a hassle to put on. You have to aim correctly or it will look a bit odd.
Not an option for the well endowed. Sorry girls; it doesn't defy gravity and give lift.

I know it seems like there are a lot of cons, but if you get the hang of it, it's really easy. Also, if you don't like the look of bra straps, the benefits greatly outweigh the cons.

NuBra (left), FreeBra (right)

As for sizes, I got both in the size A.

Now I'll talk about the 2 bras that I own. The NuBra is the higher end brand that is pretty a well known brand in North America. The FreeBra is one which I purchased on eBay from a Chinese seller. I actually have a third silicon sticky bra that's branded as "Nude Bra", but it wasn't that good. My mom bought it in Chinatown for ~$10. It did the job, but I found that the shape was odd and the plastic around the clip started to rip.

The NuBra:

Price: $60 from La Senza. Luckily, I bought it on a promotion (spend $100 and you get 50% off. So I got it for $30). I've seen them on eBay for around $30 - $50.
Colour: Nude
I find that this has better shape. The cups on the FreeBra are very.... round? They don't have that natural finish
OVERALL RATING: 4.5/5

The FreeBra:

Price: $11 on eBay
Colour: Cheetah print
My first impression was that this bra was a lot stickier than the NuBra.
The sticky film leaves a hard to remove residue (deal breaker). I would only wear this if I were planning to shower straight away.
OVERALL RATING: 3/5

A 411 on My Lashes: Stick Straight Asian Eyelashes

2014-04-18T15:01:00.003-07:00

A look at my very straight and short eyelashes.

As an oriental woman, I have the typical straight and short eyelashes. Now I'm very happy to report that I don't have stub short lashes, however, they are still quite short from what I'm used to seeing on the average eye. Who doesn't want long, thick and curly lashes?

False lashes have been my guilty pleasure for quite a few years now. They just give that length, volume and uniformity that a mascara never could. Recently however, I've obsessed with mascara and I've been trying to find that perfect mascara for everyday wear (false lashes are a bit too much for a casual make up look).

My number one must-have quality in a mascara: must hold a curl! I feel a curl in the lashes really brightens the eye. It is extremely difficult to keep my lashes curled through out the day and even more difficult to find a mascara that's going to give my lashes that wow effect.

My lashes curled with a Shiseido eyelash curler.

Join me in my quest for the holy grail mascara.

New Years Resolutions: Shopping Edition

2012-01-18T21:07:00.000-08:00

There are a few important things I want to change about my shopping habits and I'd like to share them with you.

1. Size matters.
Yes. I'm so guilty of buying the wrong size just because it was a good deal. There are so many cute things that are on sale that I would love to purchase, BUT I can NEVER find my size. I'm a petite girl, so sometimes size S doesn't fit me. If you can alter it, that's great, but I'm usually way too busy/lazy to do so. As a result, I hardly wear my over-sized clothing (unless it's to bed).

Getting clothing that fits you makes a huge difference. A fitted outfit will look SO much better for you. Some items are meant to be worn over-sized and look cute. However, wearing large items that aren't meant to be over-sized will make you look frumpy.

2. On display? No way.
I'm talking about shoes. They usually put the size sixes on display and I'm a size six. I HATE that everyone will try to shove their huge feet into the shoe on display. The result? That shoes gets super stretched out. Now, if I want to buy that pair of shoes, one shoe will be bigger than the other. Completely NOT worth it. It is so important to take care of your feet and to get shoes that really fit YOU.

3. Quality or quantity?
This one is a toughie. Honestly, I'm more of a quantity person. I like having a large selection of items and I certainly don't have the money to buying designer duds. The great thing about having quantity is that you hardly have to wear the same item more than a few times so by the time it gets a little old, you can throw it away because it probably went out of style. Although I hardly throw away my items because fashion runs on a loop. Things are modified go back in style. I wouldn't want to be spending money on trendy clothing though.

A few things that I would choose for quality are your basic tops, jeans and shoes. They all have one thing in common: they will last you forever. Since they are things you will be using a lot, they are worth the money. All these items can be paired up multiple times and you will want them looking new for a long time. I would like to emphasize that you shoes should always be of fine quality. You only have one pair of feet and you should try to keep them comfortable at all times. It will greatly affect your health.

4. Always ALWAYS try it on.
Trying on your items is always a must. There are clothes that you think will look cute, but don't and clothes that you think are ugly, but look cute! You never know until you try it on.
Sizes will run differently depending on the manufacturer, so always try on your clothes to make sure it's the right fit. This is especially important when you cannot return or exchange the clothes. You have to make sure everything fits and looks well before you go ahead and spend your money on it.

It's so important to evaluate how worth while an item is. Clothes is ever changing and you will have plenty of opportunities to buy clothes.

New Circle Lenses ^^

2011-09-22T08:54:00.000-07:00

My friend has recently come over from Malaysia and brought me some circle lenses =D A few of the lenses are for my other friends, but 5 of them were for me. I no longer wear lenses regularly and I'm looking for funds to buy a new phone (I lost my iPhone! FML). I'm only planning on keeping my EOS j-203 pinks (0.00/0.00) and I'm going to try selling the rest. I don't think my one friend will be buying hers either so I have 6-7 lenses that I need to sell =(

(My opened j-203 new adult pink)

(EOS E-203 old adult green)

(EOS G-201 Max Pure Brown)

(EOS WM - 101 Blue)

(EOS G-202 King Size Grey)

(EOS G-208 Candy Pink)

(GEO CH-621 Nudy Violet)

(Here is a picture of my bunchels of contact cases)

You need to switch out your lenses CASE ever 1-2 months for sanitary purposes!

Nail Molds For Audrey

2011-08-29T10:33:00.000-07:00

Because of my extreme disappointment in the nail art supplies in Vietnam, I've purchased a few more things on eBay.

China Glaze's For Audrey

This nail polish I actually bought at Sally's Beauty supply because it was on sale for $4.99. I normally don't buy nail polishes for that much because I can get OPI and China Glaze for a lot cheaper. However, I've wanted For Audrey for the longest time now, so I got it anyway.

The following pictures are for the 3D nail molds I got off eBay. I purchased 6 of them for $4! It was such a deal because other ebay sellers usually sell them for over $1.50 a piece. The 6 molds were actually my 6 top picks! I really love flowers and the nautical shells are extremely detailed =D

The shipping only took 10 business days! If you know shipping from Hong Kong, you'll know that 10 days is actually very fast. The 6 molds came packed together and each have their own plastic baggie. I prefer this over the big bulky cardboard packaging. I would just recycle that anyway. Anyways, here they are:

Bows or Candies? Bow Bon Bon hybrid?

Next up, I have these crystal nail files. They are 5.5" I believe so they are very small and portable. However, they are NOT WORTH THE MONEY. I got 4 of them for under $3 so it's not a huge loss, but it most definitely is not worth it. There is the sanding layer on the file that does not stay intact. After only a few uses, the portion you used to file your nail will be completely smooth and useless. I'll still be carrying one around with me for emergencies, but they will not last very long. I have 2 mini files from the nailene glue on nails as well.

Shipping for this product was a bit slower. I purchased these on the same day as the molds. The seller did not send them out for a while days and the package came in a week later than the molds.

Last eBay purchase of the post will be the adorable nail wheel. It's filled with blue, pink and white pearl bows. They are very small so they fit on the nail nicely (my nails are pretty small). They have no curve so if you'll probably have a problem with the sides getting caught on things (ei. clothes). But I don't find it to be a major problem.

It was around $4 for 300 (so 100 or each colour). I chose the multi-colour one, but there are also single coloured wheels as well. The shipping was super quick! I ordered on the 17th and received it on the 29th (almost unheard of for me)! If you're looking for these, you'll have to look up nail pearl butterfly.... But they are definity bows. Lol.

Blue French with Fimo Flowers

2011-08-27T15:45:00.000-07:00

I'm using the fruit punch nail polish with fimo flowers I got from Vietnam. I'm debating on buying the 100 fimo canes on ebay, but I don't really know if I would ever use it.

Model 21 Eyelashes

2011-08-19T10:12:00.000-07:00

This is my collection of model 21 eyelashes. I realize I have so many so I'm trying to get rid of them =P

Bottom lashes!

Last Vietnam Haul (9): Nail stuff

2011-08-16T11:13:00.000-07:00

This is finally going to be the last of my purchases for Vietnam! Yayy!!!! We can move on [to what? I have no clue =)]. These are the nail supplies and deco that I got when I was in Vietnam. Honestly..... You could find way cheaper on ebay -.-" Oh well.

Being very dissatisfied with my nail art purchases, I went and ordered a few more on ebay. A report on that later!

Brokencontrollers

2011-07-17T10:19:00.001-07:00

I was searching up my blog on google a few minutes ago and I came across something very suspicious. I found that my latest post titled "trip to vietnam + shoe haul" has been posted on a website called broken controllers only moments after it had been posted. I found it odd that their was a download file for it so I did a little bit of research on the website and this is what I found.

http://www.takeytezeyheth.net/2011/01/bloggers-beware-of-broken-controllers.html

This blogger has listed details of the website and I'm really shocked. This a warning to all bloggers and readers out there to be careful!

D=

UPDATE:
I emailed the admin last night and I got a reply 6 minutes later that the post had been removed. I searched my blog up on google again and found the same post plus another pop up. Not to worry! I clicked on both and both were removed =) I think they get many removal request so they send a generic message to anyone who emails them. They have so many other fish to fry that they don't care that one or two bloggers email them once in a while. I don't think it matters how you tell them to remove any contents pertaining to your blog; they will comply promptly.

I'm going to add a little tid bit here:
When I found out about this site, I was surprised to find myself on it, but I didn't really think much of it. I was very calm and polite when writing my email. I here that other bloggers who found out about there site wrote them angry and emotional emails. I don't see the point of getting so emotional. It's not like they will be touched by your anger and close down their site.

The internet is such a dangerous and complicated place.

=/

Trip to Vietnam + Shoe Haul

2011-07-17T01:55:00.000-07:00

I'm currently in Vietnam on vacation. Its been 2 weeks now and I'm getting really bored of this place =S It's so hot and humid so I hate going out and about. The heat also makes me super tired so I have to take afternoon naps to release myself from the pain of the heat! And waking up is such a pain =S At least I get to sleep in an air conditioned room (at night).

Anyway.... Enough of my complaining. I'm going to on with a little haul. I've already purchased many things so I'm going to have to split them up into many parts. Please keep in mind that I didn't buy them all at once. I've grouped them to make it easier to read. If I happen to purchase anything after this, I'll wait to group them again and continue my haul series with uncategorized hauls. Everything was relatively cheap =)

I'll start with the shoes! Most of these are unworn because I'm saving them for when I get back home. Most are all packed away already and are being super squishy =S

A black and white flip flop with a large fabric flower

NOTE: These flip flops are taller than most. The style is okay and quality seemed alright. However, the first day my mom wore these, it rained. On of the flip flops fell apart! Lol.

Fake bebe with a sparkling diamante flower

NOTE: I have never worn this pair so I can't tell you how it's holding up or if they are comfortable. I can tell you that it's very cute on the feet and are very eye catching =)

White flip flop with hot pink leatherette bows

NOTE: Also never worn. I've had a really bad obsession with light pink and floral print lately =S It's extremely hard to find light pink! These are hot pink so close enough =P

White flip flops with black polka dots and a cute bow

NOTE: These are the pair that I'm currently wearing. They're getting so dirty because all the mud and rain. They're still holding up though. I don't find them terribly comfortable, but I can still wear them all day with no problems.

Black flip flips with awesome rhinestone bows!

NOTE: Never worn. It looks like a rip off of the brand Shiseido (a makeup brand O.O). There are many shoes under this brand so I guess its an actual shoe brand.

Brown rubber flippies with yellow and white bows

NOTE: Purchased these shoes to wear to the washroom and beach. The washrooms over hear suck! It's the toilet, shower and sink in on room. The floor is always wet. These shoes can resist water and dirt =D

Gold flippies with floral bows

NOTE: Same as the pair above. These are my pair because they are smaller. The pair above are my sister's.

Brown/Camel flats with a buckle

NOTE: I'm kinda liking buckled shoes. They add a weird kind of swag to a heel. The buckle on these are not too elegant because they're so big, but still cute to go with everything. They're still unworn. They seem really durable. I'm not really a big fan of flats, but I think that its always good to have a pair or two just in case.

Gold Egyptian heels

NOTE: These looks very Egyptian inspired. I think it's a very interesting look. I'm very surprised my mom actually bought these. The gold detailing at the top are rubber so it's very flexible. I've worn these once and it's not too great to walk in. The heel kinda sucks and wears very easily. They're going to get really old quickly. When these shoes are worn, your small toes don't even stay on the shoe >.> It was cheap anyway so it's no big deal.

Black flats with studded LV style bows

NOTE: These are my sister's flats. I'm not a fan. They're really rubbery and squeak when you walk. I'm also not a big fan of the pointing toes.

It's a 5 kg bag of MSG! Jebus! Lol.

Last of My June Purchases

2011-07-01T10:29:00.000-07:00

I've been doing wayyyyy too much shopping lately (at least I think so). Lol. This is hopefully the last of the things I will buy before I go out of the country. I need to be saving up for school! Everything I bought was pretty inexpensive and were on sale (as usual).

1. A tribal print romper

Purchased at: Forever 21

Price: Original - $19.90, Sale - $4.99

Size: Small

NOTE: I'm not a huge fan a tribal print, but this romper was just too cheap to pass up! Lol. It has it's own matching braided belt. The belt has two wooden beads at the ends. Rompers are usually too long for me so I end up having to wear my own belt, but this romper was very short. I think girls who are any taller than I would have a difficult time wearing this piece.

2. Mini bow earrings

Purchased at: Forever 21

Price: $1.50

NOTE: Ever since I lost my favourite pair of bow earings, I've been scrambling to fill the void =( These little bow earrings are very adorable and inexpensive. I really hope F21 comes back with my favourite bow earrings so I can buy another pair.

3. Taupe booties

Purchased at: Urban Behaviour

Price: Original - $70, Sale - $14.99

Size: 35

NOTE: The great thing about having small feet is the fact the you can (usually) find cute shoes on sale in your size =D. I've been wanting a pair of booties and was contemplating on these pair for a while. When I was there, they didn't have this taupe colour; the only colour they had was dark olive green. When I finally saw the taupe colour, there were only two left in the size 35. Lucky me ;D For $70, this would be a huge rip off, but I only purchases it for $14.99. I saw a VERY similar pair at Forever 21 for $32.80.

Very Inexpensive Semi-Formal Dresses

2011-06-27T09:07:00.000-07:00

I was in the States this month to do some errands. My mom and I had some extra time before she had to go to work so we decided to do a bit of shopping. It was so disappointing, but I did manage to find some treasures =P I bought two dresses that are super cute! They are short with the bunching fabric at the bottom.

Dress 1

Purchased at: DEB

Price: Original - $60, Sale - $30, Clearance - $15

Size: 7

NOTE: I love the pale blush pink colour. I think the dress looks a lot better strapless so I want to remove the halter strap. There is a built in bra, which is a plus. The pleats on the chest area is a great part of this dress. It makes the dress look more interesting. There are fabric ties to tie a bow at the back. This dress is a big on me so I'm thinking of getting it altered. Surprisingly, the size 7 is not as gigantic on me as I thought (I'm very petite). If I tie the bow tightly, it looks just fine.

Dress 2

Purchased at: DEB

Price: Original - $60, Sale - $25, Clearance - $12.50

Size: 7

NOTE: This dress is a very lovely ivory colour. It is very similar to the last dress, but has different details. It has on shoulder strap with a bow where the strap meets the front of the dress. This dress came with a few more problems. The zipper is somewhat broken (it zips up, but it is difficult in 2 areas and someone overstretched the 2 portions of the zipper trying to zip it up), there are a few weird foundation looking stains on the inside, and the bow on top looks like it's missing fabric. I think I'm getting this one fixed up. The zipper will be changed and at the same time I will resize it to fit me better. The shoulder strap needs to be shortened and the bow will be folded over to look like a bow. Despite all of the trouble, I prefer this dress. I like the colour better. The cuff on the strapless dress is super adorable and gives the bust a nice shape. The black ribbon under the bust gives a nice contrasting colour and also ties in the back.

I'm very pleased with my purchases and am looking forward to the right occasion the wear these dresses. They both have and embroidered Victorian print on them. I'm glad I tried them on.

Calm and Wild

2011-06-24T14:57:00.000-07:00

It was a little difficult to take pictures so I just took a bunch of them and prayed that they would turnout okay =S

I hate how this nail polish chips so quickly! The only one that is still alive is the thumb with the little design on it. No chipping at all? Lol. I know it's weird to have only on finger painted, but it's one of my prettier designs.

A few new purchases

2011-06-18T14:28:00.000-07:00

I bought a few things during the mother's day weekend! All of the stores where having 40%-50% the entire store. I didn't buy much because I'm going to be leaving on vacation soon and need to save up my money =)

1. A light pink boyfriend shirt.

Purchased at: Urban Behavior

Price: $10 + 20% off = $8 before tax.

NOTE: I thought this shirt was cute, however, it first very strange. The bust area is very very tight. I bought a small at first, but I went and exchanged it for a large. The problem isn't as bad, but now the sides are too big. I don't mind though, I still love the colour. This is why you always try on clothes before you buy them. Lol. I was on a short break at work and it was the last day of the sale so I didn't really have anytime. I guess it was meant to be buttoned down further, but I don't wear my shirts like that. It's really light material so you must wear a slip or something of the sort underneath.

2. A floral skirt that is not at all simple.

Purchased at: Costa Blanca

Price: $15 + 20% off = $12 before tax.

NOTE: I was contemplating about this skirt, but I decided to purchase it after half an hour. There were only 3 left and by the time I got back to buy it, only on remained. I was a little skeptical because the skirts were size 8 or 10. I'm usually a size 0-2. This skirt is enormous on me. I can work it with an elastic belt, but I plan to get it altered when I go overseas.

3. A cutesy gold ring with a flower and dangling rhinestone.

Purchased at: Suzy Shier

Price: Around $3

NOTE: This gold ring is somewhat different from my other gold rings. I don't own many, but the gold rings I have are painted so the gold wears off quickly. This rings seems to be different, but it's too early to tell. It has a medium sized coral rose and the rhinestone on it dangles. I think it's adorable.

The Closet App

2011-06-15T19:12:00.000-07:00

I've downloaded this app called "Closet" on my iPhone. This app is pretty much a virtual closet. You take picture of your own clothes and load them into the app.

This app has multiple features. You can create your own categories and name your items or outfits to make navigating a bit easier for yourself. To make an outfit, you can choose items manually or set a grid of items. I like setting a blank grid and filling in item categories I would like in my outfit. If their's an outfit you already have in mind, you can easily assemble it with the grid. However, you if want something new and fun, you can randomize an outfit in the grid. It provides multiple combinations that you may have never thought of. And if you don't like an item in the outfit, you can tweak it a according to your own preference.

This app also comes with a calender. You can set a certain outfit(s) for any day or special occasion. That way you know what you need to wear before hand. This is especially useful to me because I never remember to wear accessories. By looking at my preset outfit, I remember what to wear with my outfits. It also helps me space out the outfits as to not wear the same thing over and over again.

Planning a trip? This app has a packing list. You can tell yourself what you plan to bring and you can give yourself reminders before you pack. This makes it easier to pack late and remember to bring all of your essentials.

I think this is a great app. I will say that it is very tedious to have to take pictures of all you things (especially if you have a lot of stuff). Some people just don't have the time or patience to do it! It took me a week to upload all of my pictures (because I wanted natural lighting and that was only at certain times). But I think it is well worth it! If you attain any new items, you can snap a shot and put it in your phone. Making outfits is fun (well, for me at least) and I never forget to accessorize. You can also take a difficult piece that you hardly wear and style an outfit around it. That way, you don't leave an item just sitting in the closet and never wearing it out.

They have their own website! closetapp(dot)com

Sorry about all the pictures, I don't know what I'm thinking. Lol. I hope I don't get in trouble for this somehow.... This is not an advertisement and I'm not trying to violate any copyright laws! Thank you.

=S

Nail Foil: Silver Dots

2011-06-13T13:29:00.000-07:00

I foiled my toes with Silver Dots. It was very evident that the foil loses it's luster after top coat (left side is top coated). Nail foils cannot last without top coat so I guess it can't be helped. The finished look isn't terrible; there is still a unique quality that cannot be achieved with normal nail polish.

Foil purchased at dollarnailart dot com.

My Jewelery/Accessories Storage

2011-06-09T13:39:00.000-07:00

1. I keep the majority of my jewelery in 3 different storages. I separate them by age, type and frequency of usage.

I've had this roll-up/hanger organizer for a while. My mom only bought it because it was cheap (99 cents). Lol. So I used it to carry my jewelery. All of the jewelery in in holder are a bit older and I hardly wear them.

a) In the top compartment, I keep bracelets.

b) I made a little earring holder out of scrap bristol board for the second compartment. I hang some of the dangling earrings (which I purchased in Thailand for very very little) on the outside. I stick smaller earrings (like studs) and other earrings that wont fit behind the white bristol board.

c) In the third compartment, I store some of my necklaces. I really would like the make something to keep the necklaces organized, but I get lazy or get occupied with other things.

d) I keep origami paper in the bottom compartment =)

I keep all of my swarovski pendents and chains in this chocolate box =P There are also a few small necklaces stuffed in there. Reduce, reuse and recycle.

In this make-up bag, I keep my newer purchases. I wear these pieces the most (which is not that often). I store my bangle sets and rings in this bag. I also keep rhinestone studs that pretty much match any outfit in this bag.

Honestly, I don't know why I have so many accessories. I hardly wear jewelery out because I always forget!

=(

Some Nail Pictures

2011-06-06T13:29:00.000-07:00

Polish: Claire's mood polish in Silly/Awesome (one of my all time favourites)

Note: If you want mood polish to last, top coat 2 times and once everyday. Otherwise, it will only last a few hours. Very annoying -.-"

French tip with a floral nail sticker on the accent finger. The sticker is glow in the dark. Lol. However, it does not stick so it was hard to apply =(

Free Mario Badescu Samples

2011-05-04T13:00:00.000-07:00

You don't even need to pay for shipping and handling =D

Shoe Pads

2011-05-01T19:55:00.000-07:00

I've recently purchased some heel and sole foot pads from eBay. It was $6 for 6 pairs of sole pads and 3 pairs the back heel pads. I needed something to make my shoes more comfortable.

The sole pads were a bit disappointing because they do not adhere to the shoe. It's a gel material so I suppose they're stick to most surfaces. However, it does not stay in place so it makes putting shoes on and taking them off a nuisance. The pads will stay in place when you're walking though. As for the back pad, I have not tried any of them yet. They do have an adhering sticker side to them though. I'm sure they would work just fine. I've just been too lazy to actually put them on a pair of shoes >.>

Face Cleansing Pad

2011-04-29T19:37:00.000-07:00

I've been looking for something that would help me wash my face with because I'm using Spectro Gel cleanser. Spectro Gel cleanser does not foam so I felt the need to get a cleansing pad. They are a flexible gel material with little bumps for deep cleansing.

I purchased these from eBay for about $1.40 each. They come in a variety of colours, but you are not allowed to request a certain colour (Booo!). So far, I'm liking it. My nose is a troubling area for blackheads so it feels like it's doing a better job of deep cleaning that area. I must complain that it slips a lot, but for $1.40 it's doing it's job.

Nails

2011-04-26T14:56:00.000-07:00

Another nail foil swatch: Emerald frost

Why do pictures look amazing when you take them and look at them on your phone, but suck when you put them on your computer? -.-"