anonimous beauty

where's my mary poppins?

2010-04-19T01:54:00.000-04:00

i need a mary poppins in my life!! *snaps fingers.. and ta-da, i'm all packed! ahah if only... so my flight to japan leaves in 8 hours =) hopefully, i didn't forget anything. so tired right now, can't really think. i'm just staring at my computer screen right now lol. but i wanted to make a post to announce i will be MIA for about two-ish weeks. off to Japan & HK.. TONS of pics will most likely appear in the next post.. so stay tuned! <3

img source: snarkcraft.wordpress.com/2009/08/

flower power

2010-04-13T21:58:00.003-04:00

agh!! i have been slacking again.. i blame it on work! but worry not, this post is jam packed with a couple of OOTD's and two very recent hauls...

Sephora Haul

i abused the 15% off coupon hahah even though they are holding back this time around because usually it's 20% off.

juice beauty cleansing milk *natural & organic certified*
peter thomas roth cucumber gel masque
evian facial spray to go (travel pack)
sephora by OPI nail color in "rumor has it..."
skyn iceland's redness relief kit (antioxidant calming serum + the antidote quenching daily lotion) *natural*
sephora pure mascara *natural*
laura mercer silk creme foundation in "bamboo beige"
caudalie vinosource anti-wrinkle nourishing cream for dry skin (for my moms!) *natural*
anastasia brow wiz in "medium ash"
korres wild rose 24-hr moisturising cream *natural* (was free b/c of the skincare challenge promotion)

i am exploding with excitement! can't wait try to everythingggg. let me know if you want a review on any of these! i have very sensitive and dry skin so all of these products were bought in hopes of changing that.

Korres Haul

korres body butter in jasmine
korres body milk in vanilla cinnamon
korres wild rose foundation in WRF2
korres guava lipstick in #13 natural pink (love the color so far!)
korres cherry lip gloss in #25 natural purple
korres cherry lip gloss in #30 beige
korres eyeliner pencil in #2 brown (very dark brown, perfect for a more soft natural look)
korres silicone free face primer

all korres products have natural ingredients as well as skin nourishing ingredients, such as vitamin E, C, etc. ahh there aren't enough face washes, mornings, and nights to try all of these in one day!! i would like to thank kate gene b/c i used her 30% off code "KATIE".. saved me lots of mula! you can still use it now. from what i remember, it expires 4/15! but check out her blog b/c every post makes me LOL. she's just hilarious. aside from that, all her reviews are to the point and very truthful.

OOTDs

work outfit: H&M blouse, the Limited skirt, random belt, <3 ruffles

one of my favorite outfits for work: Express top, The Limited skirt, Kenneth Cole necklace

flower power!! next to my jammies hanging off the chair lol. can you see my desk behind me? it's so messy b/c i'm always rushing in the morning and throwing things back on my desk. oh god i don't even know where to put all the new stuff i got today. there's no room!! so although i wore it to work that day, it's something i would wear to go out on a day-to-day basis too. however, i would prefer to wear shorts or jeans with it. the shirt was bought from a boutique called "Lit" in Boston. the brand on the tag is called "Ya" lol i can't find it online so i guess just look out for it if you're shopping at your local boutique next time? very comfy!

poppin that collar - oh yea! this jacket is just that cool. this wasn't really an OOTD, but i just wanted to show an awesome buy from H&M - a light-weight cotton jacket for $20!

ok so that's it for now.. probably won't have time to do another blog post for another 3 weeks ;x going to on an 18-hr flight to Japan on Monday wahooooooo!! then off to HK for a few days. i wonder if i can use my iphone overseas w/o being charged $8238493.. ? if so, follow me on twitter cause then it's like you're travelling with me since i will definitely be taking random pics as i am enjoying myself there =) i also tweet my OOTD's almost daily!

let me know if you're interested in any reviews! will get to it once i come back. ok off to shower and use some of these goodies now! <3

edit// GIVEAWAY i just wanted to share this giveaway with everyone. do u guys already have a purse hanger?? i know i always wanted to get one cause i'm a germaphobic and i don't like putting my bags on germ-filled floors.. especially in the bathroom! i usually make my bf or friend hold it, but still there are times wen i go to the public restroom alone and i have no clue where to put it. such a dilemma. but worry no more because Erica from Fashion Meets Food is hosting a giveaway for the following product:

so pretty. it would match my bag right now... and this is how it would be used:

it's about $20 on Joey Junior's site, but they're having a Mother's Day promotion right now, so it's 25% off and fs with $30+. if you're interested in Erica's giveaway, please enter --> here! <--

you know you're getting older when...

2010-03-30T20:07:00.002-04:00

ahh sorry mr. blog!! i have neglected you for quite a while. i've been incredibly busy with work and planning my birthday weekend. speaking of which, it was so funny to find out that Serena, Lady Gaga, and I have the same birthday! so happy belated birthday to US! the weather's been ugly lately too with rain, wind, and just plain coldness so i wasn't able to take my camera out to play. that's a big pooper. though i do have a few random pics to share!

i was SO touched when i walked home in the pouring rain to this:

LOL the UPS guy/gal was thoughtful enough to protect my precious package from the evil rain! how in the world do you find a UPS guy/gal to thank him/her??? i love people who do more than just what their job description says. you guys make the world go round. this UPS stranger definitely made my day. i know that the UPS stranger will never read this, but if you know a UPS person in Boston that delivered packages to Newton on the rainy day of 3/29/10.. please link him/her to this blog entry because i really do want to thank him/her and let them know that they did more than just put a smile on my face.

here's another surprise i got today..

near the end of a tiring day at work, my awesome coworkers sprung this on me along with a good ole' birthday song. haha my 3rd cake within 3 days, but twas so mMmm mm good. what really made me laugh was the card because of how they almost know me so well. and i say almost, because it is in my nature to never abandon a cake and to have the cake, shop, and eat it too. i am definitely feeling the love around me <3.

i just can't believe i have already lived 24 years of my life. as i reflect back, there are things that i realized are different as we all get older. so i wanted to make a list and see if you guys feel it too.

you are getting old if...

the weather is no longer your friend. you no longer jump in joy when you hear a snowstorm is coming - it will mean a sucky commute to work and/or your car will need to be shoveled out. running and splashing in the rain is no longer on your agenda. awesome sunny days suck too because you are stuck at work.. ugh!
comfort > beauty. i learned that it is not worth looking pretty if you can't breathe in the xxxs top or walk in the 4 inch heels.
you can no longer hang. pulling all nighters used to be fun! now i can't even keep my eyes open past 12AM.
lounging at home with take-out and a movie is much more appealing than going to a bar often times...
you get excited when you're reminded of things from your childhood. ex: tamagotchi's, duck hunt!!
the clothes you wear now have more fabric! no more short shorts, mini tank tops, low rise jeans. there are exceptions though.. clubbing still = dresses/skirts above the knee!
you start liking things you didn't like as a kid. ex: veggies, staying home
i'm not sure if it is just me, but i like my food and drinks less sweet now.
your to-do-list seems to keep getting longer and longer. there's always the never-ending bills to pay, and errands to run.
hanging out with your friends seem increasingly harder the older we get because of everyone's busy lives and conflicting schedules.. but good friends will always make time for each other.

image from amazon.com

image from gamespot.com

did you used to play with tamagotchi's and duck hunt?? LOL i played it in real life recently with a shotgun. you get to shoot discs just like in duckhunt! so what do you think? is it true for you? what are other things that you've noticed??

the blues ain't got nothing on me!

2010-03-18T10:32:00.010-04:00

HAPPY belated ST. PATTY'S DAY!

this was never really a holiday i observed or celebrated and it still isn't lol. the only thing i did was wear green (after my roomate told me to change), drink two sips of beer, and buy lucky charms cereal!

so i just wanted to do a quick post of an OOTD since it was so darn nice out yesterday that i wanted to take my camera out to play. i also stumbled upon H&M's the blues contest a little late, with only 2 days remaining. but looking at all the entries inspired me to enter and it was also because my closet is dominated with blues after my blue streak so it wouldn't be hard to just pick something out.

esprit jacket, H&M top, zara shorts, payless shoes, helena de natalio bag

at first, it was me, my camera, and the garbage can that contributed to the pics, but then my roomate came home just in time and was able to take pictures for me! haha it was fun to pretend to be a model for 5 minutes. i'm still trying to submit a picture to lookbook for the contest, but i need an invitation code to join. does anyone have one for me? it would be greatly appreciated!

so what did you guys do for st. patty's day? and what's your favorite color to wear?

i was tagged by the lovely serena to do the "there's me tag." ok time's a wasting.. so here we go!

Three names I go by:
1. Christina
2. Chris
3. Cookie Monster
lol there's actually a lot but i guess those are the top three

Three jobs I have had:
1. Ice Cream Seller? not sure what to call the position, but all i know is i made little children and adults alike happy in the summer! (at Haagen Daz and Chinatown Ice Cream Factory)
2. Waitress (UNO's)
3. the Asian that was stuffed in the back of the stockroom @ Abercrombie.. i would say this was the worst job i've ever had lol

Three places I have lived:
1. Brooklyn, NY
2. Stony Brook, NY
3. and now i'm currently in Boston, MA

Three favorite drinks:
1. Thai Iced Tea
2. Avocado Milkshake/Papaya Milkshake.. couldn't choose between them
3. Ginseng Tea with honey
i guess these are my favorites right now, but they always change. i'm the kind of person that likes variety.. especially in food

Three TV shows I watch:
1. Desperate Housewives
2. How I Met Your Mother
3. Millionaire Matchmaker
i don't watch tv that much now, so there are no tv shows atm that i've been watching every episode of.. these are just the top 3 shows i would turn to if i saw it on

Three places I have been:
1. California
2. England
3. Shanghai

one of the million pictures i took in shanghai.. so pretty!

one of the things i miss most.. SHABU SHABU.. i'm drooling right now

<3 traveling

Three places I would like to visit:
1. Japan
2. Africa
3. Australia
<3 traveling

Three people who text me regularly:
1. BF
2. Friend1
3. Friend2
lol BF is probably the only one that really texts me

Three favorite old TV shows:
1. Recess! (the cartoon)
2. Jackie Chan (the cartoon).. lol i dunno if that was the title of the show
3. Friends

Three favorite dishes: (this one is too hard just to put 3!) <-- i agreeee!! who would even think of this Q?
1. Sushi- sashimi > rolls but love both <-- lol i will just leave this as it is
2. Pho!!
3. um soup.. lol just give me any kind of soup.. thanks!

Three makeup products I cannot live without:
1. eyeliner
2. Foundation [because it can be used as a concealer as well] <--- agree!
3. ?
to be honest, i only have 2 that i can really not live with out

Three things I'm looking forward too:
1. having a grand ole time with my favoritest people in the world next friday night! hopefully i will not be carried out by a bouncer or falling off tables this time lol. (it will be my birthday weekend :D)
2. moving back home...
3. Warmer weather so there will be more day play dates. <--- agree!! lol i bought so much summer/spring clothes lately.. so bring on the sun!!

*H*

*Michelle*

*Ria*

you''ve been tagged!!

i feel like doing this right now lol.. good night!

you are beautiful

2010-03-10T18:58:00.004-05:00

YAY two awards in one week! haha i feel so loved =) both from the lovely serena. thanks girlie!

1. Thank the blogger who gave you the award.

2. Put the award on your blog

3. Link the person who nominated you.

4. Share 7 ‘interesting’ facts about yourself.

5. Nominate 7 other bloggers.

interesting fact #1 - i am a rice girl! other than the fact that i love to eat rice and am asian.. i also drive a red subaru hahah. it was my first car and i love it to death even though it is falling apart on me. i should really treat it to a car spa more often..

like my hot ride? haha just add some bird poop, lots of salt stains, and tons of scratches and that's how my car looks like.

interesting fact #2 -

picture taken from google images

it was christmas. i was little. probably 7 years old. my mom said i wasn't getting a present from santa this year because i've been a bad girl. i cried. then i started hating on santa =( it still hurts a little. lesson? moms shouldn't lie!!

interesting fact #3 - i went studying abroad in Shanghai, China in college and it was one of the best things i've done in my life. i think EVERYONE should go study abroad! i actually went with my boyfriend and was shocked that i was able to endure his face 24/7 for a month! lol seriously, we literally were with each other every minute of the days we were there. we woke up together, we snoozed in class together, we brushed our teeths together, we ate deliciously cheap food together, etc., etc. i miss Shanghai!! especially the KFC and hot pot restaurant there. KFC had awesome mushroom soup and egg tarts lol.

oh how i miss thee!! i usually don't eat egg tarts, but these have flipped me into a tart lover.

interesting fact #4 - i am one of those organized messy people. you know what i mean? if you walked into my room, you would think "dam, what a pig!" but i'm organized in the fact that i know exactly where everything is.. until you touch or move something. i'm a little anal like that and don't like people touching my stuff. BUT i do have occasional periods where i clean like crazy and everything looks all nice and neat for maybe a day or two because i managed to find a new location to hide piles of stuff. i have WAY too much stuff and no space for it.. therefore i appear messy and i NEED a walk-in closet. ahh.. one day! sometimes when i watch the show about hoarders.. i feel a little worried.

interesting fact #5 - it seems that i will be going to Japan & Hong Kong soon, weee!! i can't wait! i am looking forward to these crazy kitkat flavors:

image from http://blog.tylerbell.net/2007/06/22/kit-kat-flavors/ check out the site for MORE crazy flavors!

i am leaving 4/15. has anyone ever been? if you have been, i would love some traveling tips from you! you can email me via anonimous.bty@gmail.com too =) what other cool things should i look out for besides cherry blossom kitkats??

interesting fact #6 - i have a worm in my stomach. i really think so. i am in love with food and eat very frequently. i consume probably 20000 calories a day. i eat when i'm hungry, when something that i never tried before looks delicious, when i'm bored, when i'm happy, when i'm sad, and especially when the food is free!

interesting fact #7 - maybe it's because i work in this field, but i always have this fear that i will have cancer. i remember watching baywatch and there was this episode that this girl (forgot her name) was having a picnic with her bf, who is a doctor, and then the bf suddenly realizes she has a big mole on her calf. he suggested to get it tested and as it turns out, it indicated that she had cancer. ever since then i was so afraid because i have that same mole on my calf! and it's pretty big too. then recently, i saw a small mole on the palm of my hand that i never seen before and got nervous. i went to the doc and they said it wasn't anything i should be worried about, but still! i worry. paranoid much?

i know one of the blog award rules is to tag 7 people, but i really think you are all beautiful in your own unique style. so if you're reading this.. I TAG YOU!!

GIVEAWAYS WOOHOO! (wishing one of them was a hawaii trip right now.. but these are just as good too!)
on a side note, one of my beautiful bloggers is having a giveaway. now, i normally don't wear nail polishes, but her giveaway is making me want to snatch it and paint it on my nails right this instant. the color is so pretty!
please check out fashion meets food don't you adore this title?

another beautiful blogger with the name of kate gene is giving away a set of honeycat cosmetics. it would absolutely be the frosting to my cake to have a sweet potatie pie bubble bath right now!

you are my sunshine

2010-03-10T11:29:00.001-05:00

oh man i can watch the millionaire matchmaker all day!! patty's HILARIOUSSS.. i love how brutally honest she is lol. there was this girl being interviewed to potentially date a millionaire and she was blonde with tons of makeup and a really short boob-showing dress. patty goes.. "are you a whore?" hahah she always says what everyone is thinking with no shame. love itt. do you guys watch it?? i'm watching it as i am blogging =P

OOTW (outfit of the weekend!)
weather in NYC was gorgeouss! it was in the 50's. i think my ideal weather would be all sunshine and between the high 60's and 70's - not too hot and not too cold! so of course the beaming sunshine calls for a dress!

both the jacket and sweater dress was from H&M. brown boots from nine west.

my camera is getting sucky. it's only good when i take pictures using natural sunlight. so sorry for the bad picture! will invest in a better camera soon.

so part of my haul showcase was this bag from helena de natalio. since i wore it this weekend, i thought i should post it at the same time and ask you for your opinion. so here it is!

lol the second pic looks like i'm about to do the herbal essences commercial. the third pic, i have a retarded face. BUT the bag looks good in the pics and that's all that matters! it's called "sofita" and it can be worn in 1 of 2 ways. 1 - like a crossbody bag, which is the way i wore it in the pics. 2 - the handle can be folded over and made shorter so that it's like a regular handbag. it's usually about $400 when i first saw it in a bag boutique called "blue bag" in soho. but then i saw it on beyond the rack for $199 and got excited.. so of course i bought it! when i first got it though, i noticed a huge scratch on it..

and i've been thinking for a week whether or not to return it. they don't have anymore of these bags so i can't exchange. i am leaning towards returning it because it is a huge noticeable war scar but the more i use it, the more i am falling in love with the bag. it is made of incredibly soft leather and i usually overstuff my bags so sometimes it looks weird being overstuffed, but this bag still looks good and is very comfortable to wear. i dunno! what should i dooooo?? what do you think? to keep or not to keep?

FIRST BLOG AWARD =)

"You are my sunshine, my only sunshine
You make me happy when skies are gray"

in my world, there is more than just one sun. i am grateful for the many things that brighten my life. a big big THANKS to serena for my first blog award! it means a lot to me and i really am glad we met in this humungous blogging world!

1. Post the logo on your Blog
2. Pass it to 12 bloggers that inspire you!
3. Link the bloggers and let them know!!

the 12 beautiful bloggers that inspire me with each and every post:

1 - beyond me

2 - steph from DSK Jewelry

3 - nikki from ewwitsnikki

4 - erica from fashion meets food

5 - jen from frm head to toe

6 - holly from holly ann-aeree

7 - katie from katiengo

8 - h from lalacupcake

9 - serena from serenadeveryday

10 - irene from pink hearted princess

11 - ree from thoughts

12 - katie from katiegene

a lot of you already got the award, but still.. you all inspire me by your beauty, determination (to make very frequent posts.. i feel like even my weekly posts take so much time!), and intelligence. i learn something everyday from each one of you every time i read your posts. i wish i had more time in a day to be able to comment on your blogs, but do know that you make a difference in my everyday life.

putting my skin, hair, & style under a magnifier

2010-03-04T23:28:00.004-05:00

hi everyone!! i want to start off with how grateful i am to those that read my blog even though i only started a month or so ago. it keeps me going and it puts a smile on my face when i get a new comment. i love hearing your thoughts, suggestions, and everything in between. blogging is just one of the numerous ways to meet new people and i'm very glad i met you all. although i don't know you guys in real life, i feel like i can relate to all of you.

ok enough of the squishy mushy stuff! so i am preparing to showcase a humungous haul. it is pretty much a pile of things i accumulated over the past month (bags, clothes, makeup). i went shopping-crazy, especially since i started blogging and reading blogs. blogging has fed the shopping monster in me haha. it is no good, but i guess some good can come out of it if i can share it with you guys. i will give the goods and the bads of each purchase and whether or not it was worth the price! before i publicize my buys, i wanted to sort of give you a closer look at the type and history of my skin, hair, and clothing style. this way, it will help you decide whether the products i buy and review might be right for you.

*my beauty bio*
epidermis type: very sensitive and dry. i think the only oil on my face are on top of my eyelids lol. i hardly breakout and when i do, i would get at most 3 pimples at a time so acne is not a problem for me. i have eczema and am allergic to a lot of things such as dust, dogs, and cats. my biggest problem is an uneven skin tone. i usually have red blotches on my face and they are especially apparent if my skin is irritated. therefore, things that i look for in my skincare products are whether it is moisturizing enough, hypoallergenic, and non-irritating. i prefer all the products i use to be natural or organic (please see below for the difference between the two) . my attitude with cosmetics, skincare products, and medicine is the same - the less i have to expose my body to chemicals i can't even pronounce, the better. some brands that i like, use, and have are juice beauty, clinique, egyptian magic, eucerin, and aveeno.
hair type: fine, limp hair. my main problem is that my hair tangles easily and knots up in the nape of my neck. i also don't like how flat my hair can become. i need some OOMPH!! so i am constantly looking for products that will volumize and/or thicken my hair. i have dyed my hair ever since i can remember... probably since high school. i've also permed my hair 3 times. that is probably why my hair is the way it is lol. it is, however, silky and straight.. i guess like most asian hairs? some brands that i like, use, and have are head and shoulders, and pantene pro-v.
makeup type: um.. i guess natural? i hardly wear makeup everyday. my daily makeup routine consists of eyeliner and tinted moisturizer. the main reasons being laziness and that i value those precious few minutes of snoozing way too much. but when i go out at night, i usually do more and start making use of the rest of my makeup. ever since blogging, i started building my makeup collection at the same rate a fat starving boy eats his cake. i have a warm skin tone and yellow/olive skin. i tan very easily in the summer. some brands that i like, use, and have are shiseido, tarte, urban decay, korres, and revlon.
clothing style: hmm i would say comfortable chic? i like simple, but different.. if that makes sense. an example might be a plain long t-shirt i can wear with tights, but with a sequined pocket. i adore details. i think the most important thing i look for in clothing is quality. i need to feel comfortable in my clothes or else they become a one-time use only and end up in the never-wear-again land. the reason is also because of my eczema and certain fabrics can irritate my skin. i realize that when i shop, i do tend to look at the brand names. i do this because there are brands which i am used to wearing and already know how they fit on me and what my size is. i would describe my body type as athletic.. even though i'm not at all active anymore. i have broad shoulders and small hips. i am also tall, skinny, and have long legs (5'5, 120lb). hence, i look for clothing that will make my hips look bigger and bring less attention to my shoulders. i avoid puffy sleeves and love wearing skirts. some brands that i like, use, and have are (prepare for a long list lol) h&m, forever21, michael kors, banana republic, express, and bcbg.

natural vs. organic skincare products: the terms are not interchangeable. the term "natural" is used very freely. just because a product is described as natural, it doesn't mean anything. the term organic is a little bit more regulated, especially when it comes to food. it means that the food/ingredient/item is processed and handled in a special way that doesn't include extra chemicals, pesticides, and etc. i think the safest thing to do is to look at the ingredients list. i try to avoid anything with pthalates, paraben, and talc because these chemicals have been related to cancer. a lot of new products are now paraben-free and/or talc-free. look out for those labels! korres and juice beauty are some examples of brands that i have used and i feel are safe for my skin.

props to those of you that got to this point and actually read everything =) i wish it was more pic-heavy.. but the next entry will definitely make up for this one.

i actually took this pic in the middle of the street on my way to work.. lol and that's not dandruff on my hair btw.. it's snow!! ok until next time!! stay warm <3

winner winner chicken dinner! & OOTD

2010-02-24T21:13:00.003-05:00

so this weekend i came home to some very lovely goodies:

i was the winner of Nikki's giveaway!! haha i entered just because, but i definitely did not think i was going to win. surprise surprise =)

the bracelets are so pretty! it came with a little love note too. i love reading notes. i remember in high school, my friends and i used to write notes to each other on cute little stationaries with hello kitties, pichacco, and kerropies and give it to each other in between classes. it's nice getting notes isn't it? it's nice knowing that you were on someone's mind even if it was for a few minutes.

thanks nikki!!

Outfit Of The Day

(more like outfit of the week? or month? i get lazy with uploading pictures)

this is what i wore to work today. temperature was hitting the 40's(F) so i got excited and whipped out the skirt! shirt & skirt from banana republic outlet. i love the fit of the skirt.. it's of stretchy material so it looks fitting, but comfortable at the same time. looks perfect with the bubbly top. i usually keep it simple with jewelry and never really wear a bracelet, necklace, earrings, and earrings all at once. so this simple necklace brought out the look a little more. a little word of advice though.. do NOT, do not, do NOT get stockings from CVS!! i wore these stockings for a day and now there's 3 holes and 2 runs on it. maybe that's why it came in two's.

upcoming: i bought a sh*tload of things this past week or so.. so probably will do my first haul. bought some l'oreal lipsticks, my first fake eyelashes, 88 palette, a design brushes, urban decay alice in wonderland eye shadow set, etc etc.. too much to list! since i was so happy to be on the receiving end, i want to share my happiness and would like to host a giveaway eventually! so stay tuneeddddd =)

--edit--

just wanted to do some ranting before i went to sleep. one of the most annoying things to me is losing a sock when doing laundry. so irritating!! wat am i supposed to do with this one lonely sock now?

geeks and cops are cool.. LOL?

2010-02-17T21:16:00.004-05:00

RANDOM FIND #1: does anyone watch the show big bang theory?? i think the show is hilarious even though i'm not a religious watcher. i never noticed the t-shirts that the characters wear either until i came upon this site: sheldonshirts. it's a site that is mainly dedicated to finding and sharing where the t-shirts the stars wore on the big bang theory show are sold. it's crazy how creative the human minds are and the things people think of! want to buy a light saber?? check out the "Other Fun Stuff" section.

RANDOM FIND #2:

picture from geekologie.com

LOL! HOT RIGHT?! how cool would it be to rock these heels on halloween? the lights can be turned off and on too! remember when light up sneakers were a fad when you were a kid? these shoes take it to a whole nother level!! i googled tim cooper because he is the designer and i found that they come in white too:

picture from diamondheadz.wordpress.com

i was trying to find out where to buy them but i don't think they are being sold. it is just a concept right now. poop!

RANDOM FIND #3:

pictures from geekologie.com

shortcuts to the internet language. how lazy can we get?? TTYL and LOL are shortcuts to talktoyoulater and laughoutloud and now there are shortcuts to the shortcuts!! another cool thing about this keyboard is you can switch from an alphabetical layout to the standard qwerty layout. buy it here at fastfingerkeyboards for $30!

all random finds were found on www.geekologie.com and i discovered this site on irene's blog. i freakin love this site and her blog!

Justine's Jewelry Review

2010-02-16T20:12:00.002-05:00

hi everyone!! it's been awhile since i blogged partly because i've been coming home late from work and i'm addicted to this tvb series "born rich." it's a little over-dramatic and not the best drama but still. guess i'm just easily captivated? so how was your valentine's day/chinese new year/president's day? so much celebration in one weekend! plus it was two of my friends' birthdays. i didn't really do anything special though. just hanging out and spending time with the loved ones was all i needed.

anyway, on to the good stuff! i'm not exactly sure how i found Justine's Swarovski Jewelry, but i'm glad i did or else i would've never gotten such sparkly treasures:

let me start with my favorite one: the winter's love affair necklace (deep ocean blue AB swarovski heart garnished with a swarovski pearl and a silver wing charm). they hang on an 18" long chain. it is just so pretty. i love how it's so sparkly and makes any outfit pop. lately, i have been wearing blue a lot. maybe because of this necklace? as a matter of fact, i'm wearing it as i type! *$28
key to my heart II - this is such a cute idea! "he who holds the key can unlock my heart" swarovski sapphire AB heart hanging on a key charm and connected by a 17" chain. as you can see, this necklace compared to the winter's love affair has a greenish tint to it, kind of an aqua color. i'm a little sad because when i bought this, this was the only color it came in, but now she's offering a variety of colors (Pink AB, Sapphire AB, Emerald AB, Red AB, Violet AB). red or violet would have been nice. maybe i'll buy another one and use this one for a giveaway? *$19
a girl with wings - swarovski pearls with wing charms. so beautifully paired. gives a touch of elegance and sweetness to an outfit. perfect for weddings. *$14

just a note: AB describes a type of coating that is put on swarovski crystals to give it a special look. according to about.com, it stands for "aurora bourealis," which is the effect that the special coating is supposed to give. here is a closer look at the AB side of the crystal:

the first image is not AB and is the shinier side because it reflects light at all angles and on all cuts, but the second (AB) side reflects light only at certain angles on different cuts. hope this is helpful because i didn't know this when i bought it.

i love how justine packaged the goods too:

she included the best samples too!! korres 3in1 cleansing, toning and eye make-up removing emulsion and starburst gummibursts! haha i actually have been craving to try this candy and now i can. i also love the brand korres because of its natural ingredients. so they were perfect for me.

overall, i will definitely buy more jewelry from justine because not only are the prices reasonable, but so is she. if there's anything wrong at all, she will take care of it. she is such a sweetheart! thanks again justine!! also, i am a little picky when it comes to jewelry because i have eczema and therefore, my skin gets irritated easily. justine's chains, however, are sterling silver and i haven't gotten any reaction from them. the chains aren't, i guess you can say, rough and it doesn't make my neck itch either. so in conclusion, i think justine's jewelry is comfortable, cute, and stylish! FIVE STARS!! (out of five)

disclaimer: i was not asked to do this review. i decided to do it because of how much i love her jewelry and her excellent customer service.

have a happy day!

2010-02-14T12:29:00.001-05:00

hi all, just wanted to make a post to wish you all a happy valentine's day as well as a happy chinese new year! i've been super busy lately so i haven't been blogging as much as i wanted to. i would like to do a review on these 2 necklaces and earrings i bought from Justine very soon. and i just found out i won Nikki's valentine's giveaway!! what a way to start my day right? so i hope everyone will enjoy spending time with their loved ones. relax and bring on the smiles/laughter.

ruelala's launch my line announced!

2010-02-03T22:30:00.002-05:00

for those of you who haven't been following the show "Launch My Line" or RueLaLa, they both teamed up to hold a competition for new aspiring designers to launch their own line to be sold exclusively at ruelala. the winner was announced tonight and Kathy Rose's Native Rose line is now available on ruelala! i was watching the show and was so excited and couldn't wait to buy the zebra tube dress w/pockets but then i was hit with disappointment once i logged into ruelala. it wasn't the same dress that was in the show that i was pining for!!

(images courtesy of bravotv.com and ruelala.com)

is it just me or is it different?? what made me like the dress were the pockets.. you could sort of see them sticking out where the model's right hand is, but the one that is being sold doesn't have pockets at all. also, i think the belt really made the dress and it should have came with the dress especially since it is priced at $150! very very expensive.

this dress is priced at $249. this lady in red dress also looked hott on the runaway, but it looks very different on the site as well. where are the ruffles?? disappointing! some of the other dresses that are being sold on ruelala are:

this outfit actually looks like the one on the runaway, but with the exception of a small detail - the ends of the ropes of the belt. priced at $199

again very different. the one on the runaway is much more flowy and longer in length. priced at $199

some of my other favorites from the last episode were:

these dresses are from DJ Eric Cubeechee's collection. he focuses primarily on clubbing clothes so everything is very sexy and glamorous. i love this ruffle dress. it's simple and sexy. the black dress on the right is INGENIOUS. it has multiple pockets so you don't need to bring a bag to the club! it has a pocket for your credit card, your license, and a pocket specialized for your lip gloss! how awesome is that?

what were your favorites and what would you have paid money for??

valentine's day giveaway

2010-02-02T09:09:00.007-05:00

who doesn't love free stuff?? maybe only aliens who are too afraid to take free things because they think it'll hurt them. that probably didn't make sense, but my point is -- free things yay!!! so anyway, a blogger who i have recently had the pleasure to meet is having a valetine's day giveaway. i'm not sure why her title is eww it's nikki because it should have been oOo it's nikki.. she's gorgeous and is so good with makeup. she also has a lovely voice. so yes, head on over there and give her a holler to enter the giveaway!

one of the questions nikki asked in her giveaway is.. what is love to you? my answer was (though it may be a bit dramatic, but it is truly what i believe):

"Love = the sharing of beauty. beauty from the inside (your personality, your morals, your soul) and beauty on the outside (nature, people, laughter, happiness, etc.) Love is being able to share the things that INSPIRE you, the things that make you YOU."

i came, i saw, i conquered!

2010-02-01T20:39:00.003-05:00

hi everyone! i hope your weekend was awesome, making up for the miserable mondays. i have a huge headache right now =( but i really wanted to make a few posts while i have time right now.

(if you're not interested in my weekend, you can skip this paragraph and straight to shopping-related things.. it's ok, i don't mind.)
so my weekend was pretty much filled with fun in racing, mini-golf, shopping, and hanging out with cool bean friends. if you haven't checked out f1 racing (in boston) yet, you should!! such an adrenaline rush. it is pretty much go karts on steroids. i really wish you get more than one race though. it was $40 for one race + a one day license. another place you should check out is monster mini-golf - a good fun hour for only $7.50 (if you are taller than an avg 11 year old that is, but if you're shorter, it's $6.50!!.. pays to be short here). although groupon is featuring it as a side deal today - 4 admissions for $20! btw, i LOVE groupon. it has a new deal everyday in a variety of cities (off the top of my head: new york, boston, chicago, philadelphia, and more). most of the times the deals are on restaurants and spa services, but aside from the awesome deals they feature, what i love most about this site is that it exposes me to different places i never knew about. anyway, get your monster mini-golf (featured in boston) deal today! it's today only.

not so surprisingly, shopping was also on my weekend's agenda. went to natick mall and express was pretty much the first store i conquered. they are having a sale and taking an additional 40% off!! this is probably my favorite, if not second favorite, store ever. i can always find styles to my liking and contrary to what others think, it is not expensive at all. the main reason is because almost everything always goes on sale. my closet can probably be an express store. there were so many cute tops and sweaters that were on sale. here are some snapshots of what i tried on and ended up buying:

i like the detailing of sequences along the sides of the sweater. puts some bam into a simple outfit!

my very first sweater vest. maybe it's the pattern that attracted me and pulled me in like a magnet.

i love this oversized sweater.. makes you look authoritative. definitely catches attention

hmm normally, i don't like animal prints, but this red jaguar printed sweater makes an outfit pop.

the best part was that they were all $11.99!! ah.. i walked out with a huge smile on my face =) nothing beats the feeling of knowing you got your moneys' worth!

sales, deals, discounts, savings.. oh my!

2010-01-27T14:38:00.006-05:00

since some time ago, i vowed to never pay full price for anything unless it was a) an emergency, b) i can't live without it, or c) i just absolutely needed it now. i guess they could've all been put into the category of something-i-need-now-and-cannot-wait-another-minute-for, but you get my point. the reason for such a promise to myself is because first off, every store always ends up having sales of some sort. you ever get the buyer's remorse after seeing something you bought go on sale?? (and it's too late to get a price adjustment on it!) it's depressing. sales occur every season, when stores are trying to make room for their new inventory. and it's not like winter sales only occur after winter. they are often happening in the early-mid seasons. take the current winter sale happening at the moment... actually it is on its verge of ending and we still have about 2 months of polar bear weather to endure. secondly, almost every store has promotions from time to time ranging from free gifts with a purchase to $$money$$ off a purchase. the only connector between these is timing - knowing when. i often find myself searching on the great Internet looking for these deals, coupons, promotions and whatnot and it seems like they are never in one place. so this is where i come in... the milisecond i find out about an opportunity to save big bucks, i will announce it and you will be in the know. all you have to do is follow me on twitter and sync it with your blackberry, iphone, palmpre, or whatever phone is cool these days. i promise i won't let you down! from time to time, i will spill my confessions as a shopaholic too and any worth going to event around Boston and NY.

so here are some tips i learned throughout my shopping lifespan on how to never buy things at retail price:
1) 24/7 online sample sales! these are sites that hold a variety of sample sales everyday and are always sold for a fraction of the price. this is pretty much the only online shopping i do now. most of the brands i see on these sites are: nine west, kenneth cole, cole haan, free people, hype, gucci, chanel, and so so much more. my favorite online sample sale sites are listed on the left panel with invites. most of these sites are invitation only. i admit i get $10-20 credit for each new member that purchases something, but i genuinely love these sites so much that i wanted to let you know about them. it's actually worse for me because now i will have more competition when it comes to each sample sale opening! (these sites have their sample sales open at a specific time, either 11AM or 12PM and all the good things are often sold out within the MINUTE!) i believe that if you are loyal to a specific brand, you might as well get it at a highly discounted price and still get the same quality as you would if you bought it in let's say bloomingdales. not only do these sites host sales on clothing, accessories, and such, but they have sales on home goods, services (such as massages), and travel (but those are always high-end and expensive).
2) shop at chains that specialize in selling high quality brand names at discounted prices the most popular as well as my favorite chains are TJ Max and Marshalls, which are under the same company and the prices are the same. Cole Haan glasses for $20! Samsonite spinner luggages for $60! i love going to these stores to see what new treasures i would find. the way these companies work is that they buy items from department stores that are looking to get rid of their extra inventory at a bargain price. that is how they are able to sell it for a much lower price. if you'd like to read more on how they work and how these companies started, click here.
3) sign up for e-mails, newsletters, catalogues! do you have a favorite store you always go to? it is smart to sign up for their e-mails and catalogues because companies like to keep their customers' loyalty by sending them coupons and special offers. also, many stores now offer reward cards (not credit cards). if you buy a lot from them anyway, might as well make sure they keep track of it and let them know who is a loyal customer. that way, you will be rewarded.
4) find an outlet near you outlets always have great buys and even outlets have sales and coupons! if you are planning to go to an outlet, don't forget to visit their website and see what sales are going on. also, google "printable coupons" and click on the first link that pops up. this blog always have updated lists of coupons to print out and use. most outlets have coupon books that you can pick up at their information center too. in boston, the closest outlet is Wrentham and to get a coupon book there, you need a student ID or AAA card. you can also ask nicely and most of the times, they will give it to you anyway. in NY, the closest outlet is Woodbury Commons. there is also a Tanger Outlet in long island.
5) there is a time and a place for every buy consumer reports created a calendar to help guide you when the 'right time" to buy a certain item is. certain products are sold at a lower price during a certain time of the year because of its low demands. don't forget to take advantage of holiday sales too!
6) keep updated with bargain sites sites like dealnews, dealsea, edealinfo, and slickdeals are always on the lookout for deals and everyday there are a stream of deals that are posted. but like i said, it is time consuming to look at so many sites for deals and discounts. so if you trust me, follow me on twitter and i'll let you know what deals/discounts/coupons are worth it.
7) don't throw away your student ID a lot of stores offer student discounts if you just show them your school ID. stores like J.Crew (i believe it was 10% off) and TopShop (20% off located in soho) offer student discounts.
8) keep your reciepts you never know when a store will suddenly have a sale or an even bigger sale after you went shopping. most stores offer price adjustments within 14 days of purchase. check their website or call to ask about their price adjustment policy.

i hope these tips will help you looking fabulous and at the same time sparing your wallet. and i would love to know if you have any other tips that weren't mentioned as well.

LeSportsac Runaway Duffle Bag in Splash review

2010-01-20T21:39:00.005-05:00

so today i finally got my LeSportsac bag! i have been looking for one for so long. i originally wanted the large weekender, but i couldn't find a color that i liked. if you've seen LeSportsac bags, you'd know how funky their designs are. they were either too plain or too crazy for me, but i've finally found THE ONE!

i got it on hautelook, an online sample sale i rave about almost every post, for $60 (retail = $120). the dimensions for this bag are: 16" wide x 9" long x 8" deep. if you've seen the weekender bags, this one is in between medium and large. i would say it's a little closer to medium though. it is absolutely perfect for a weekend getaway, especially for snowboarding/skiing trips. the fabric material makes it really easy to clean. another reason i insisted on getting a LeSportsac traveling bag is because of how light and roomy they are, yet stylish. i have some LeSportsac totes and though they might look small, they can fit so much. i decided to make a review video for it to showcase how much it can fit.

please excuse the constant sniffing! i'm sick and have a very runny nose. also, i thought i did a poor job of making it seem easy to pack because i only had one hand to actually do the packing while my other hand was holding the camera. if i had actually packed better, it wouldn't have looked so stuffed. somewhere in the middle, i realized my camera wasn't centered on the bag.. so you were mostly watching the floor and listening to me talk. my apologies! other than that.. i hope you enjoyed the review and i hope it helped you in someway or another!

sweet spunk

2010-01-18T22:40:00.000-05:00

H&M pink top; Express white top & jeans; Forever21 black sequenced vest, gold leaf earrings, & black studded belt.

lady in red

2010-01-18T22:34:00.004-05:00

Forever21 red tube dress; New York & Company necklace; Express studded waist skirt (used as tube top under the dress); Saks Fifth lacey tights; Payless Shoes boots (although i wish i had some cute black booties instead)

obsessions of a shopaholic

2010-01-12T14:34:00.002-05:00

my new obsessions - jeggings (jean leggings), studs, sequences, and bags (all kinds).

don't forget to follow my twitter!! the milli-second i find out about a sale/discount/coupon/any crazy deal, i will be twitting it on my iphone (which i have with me 24/7).

confessions of a shopaholic

2010-01-10T11:43:00.007-05:00

the result of 6 hours of shopping with my roomie @ wrentham outlets. i would say it was a success! although surprisingly, she ended up buying more than me.
the new additions to my overflowing wardrobe:

nine west brown boots - $50
nine west black booties - $30
Burton snowboard mint boots - $85
cute shirt from saks fifth off - $15
2 pair of tights from saks fifth off - $24
Burton scarf i don't know how to use yet - $15

total - $219 to my poor hello kitty credit card... actually my rich hello kitty card, poor me.

what's the buzz on twitter?

2010-01-08T14:24:00.000-05:00

i officially joined the twitter club! i signed up so i can easily post coupons/deals/sales instantaneously. be my shopping buddy and follow me! =)

voom voom voom

2010-01-07T23:33:00.001-05:00

i love coming back to my apt with UPS boxes sitting on my steps patiently awaiting me. the UPS guys are like santa's little elves that work all year round. hooray for them! christmas everytime i see those boxes.

i couldn't wait. my order from hautelook finally came.

they are delicacies of voom by joy han

i am in LOVE with this "tina bubble" dress. it has a cute just-right sized bow and pockets!! pockets seem to be the big thing this season. sweaters, skirts, dresses with oversized pockets. it was $49 on hautelook. i googled the dress and it seems to be selling for $150 elsewhere. yay a steal! it fits just right and is adjustable with a laced up back. perfect for special events, weddings, or even a night out. it can be sweet by pairing it with a necklace with pearls and some nice shoes. it can be punkish-rock with laced tights and some black accessories.

another joy han delicacy called "beaded top." i really wanted to pair the top with shorts, but i couldn't find any in my boston apt. i used to live in ny so i have a lot of my clothes there too. but anyway, the necklace is sewn in with the top complimenting it very well. what i like most about the top is the color. i don't think my camera and photography skills (or lack thereof) did the color justice. $35! googled it for about $60.

hautelook is just heavenly. it hosts a variety of boutiques that open at 11AM on the dot everyday with designer apparel and accessories for affordable prices. i've seen cole haan, nine west, betsey johnson, soia kyo, diesel, various makeup brands and i can't remember anymore. they occasionally have blowout sales too. the shipping is $10. i have them ship the items to boston so there's no tax, but i'm not sure if they will charge tax for elsewhere. ok ladies and gents?.. happy shopping!!

benefit online sale//this weekend's boston events

2010-01-07T12:05:00.002-05:00

Benefit is having a "sale-abration"!! i've never seen benefit have a sale online until now. a lot of their things are about 25% off. you can just type sale in their search box to find it.

free shipping with $50+: "PRETTY50"
free silky eyeshadow with $35+
2 free samples
if you use ebates, you can get 3% cashback

i'm not sure if return shipping is free though.. and i think all sale items are non-returnable anyway. here are the things i put in my cart:

"creaseless cream eyeshadow" ($19, color: tattle tale) - would look great as a base color and/or highlighter under the brow. so prettyy

"realness of concealness" ($24) - i've had this for more than a year now and i love it. it's cute and so handy. i use all of the things that are included.

"you're bluffing" ($16.50) - conceals redness. it was voted "best concealer" by Star magazine in 2006. let's hope it works!!

if you live in boston, here are some places/events to check out this weekend:

stylemakers pop-up store: a 2-day shopping event where stylists, editors, and some of the most best-dressed people are cleaning out their closets and selling their clothes and accessories. it is being held this friday night, jan 8 (6pm-9pm) and all of saturday, jan 9 @ 15 Channel Center Street. it's like a designer yard sale!! this article from boston herald includes a sneak peek on what you will expect.
improv's no pants 2010: i see london, i see france, i see your underpants!!! if you're riding the T this sunday, u might see some funky undies. i love improv. they are a group of people that hosts events such as this that ultimately gathers people from around the city for an outrageous task. this time, the task is to wear no pants on the T this sunday, jan 10. youtube their events.. it's hilarious watching people's reactions. they are also having the event in new york. <<--- watch the video of last year's. can you believe they have been doing this for 8 years already?? i guess i haven't gone on the train that day for the past 8 years.

why is winter so cold??

2010-01-07T00:09:00.001-05:00

why is winter so cold in boston?? well here are some of my favorite winter wears that are keeping me warm and cozy this winter:

most comfortable winter boots in the world!! they're so furry and cute and waterproof too. i bought them maybe 2 years ago? they're from sporto and i think they were around 40-50$. and the jacket i bought recently from cole haan. it was on sale for $250. totally worth it. it's 80% down and so warm and cozy. it's really light and great for travel because it can convert into a pillow. it comes with the pillow cover too! i never liked bubble puffy jackets, but this one is just plain awesome.

this was the outfit i wore today. cute, sweet, cozy. the maroon sweater was on sale for $20 from hollister, belt from forever21 ($8?), grey tank top from express ($15), hat from a boutique in soho nyc ($17), and tights you can get pretty much from anywhere. i love these tights though because they are thicker than most and are warm enough to wear on its own. my mom had gotten it for me from her company. she is a pattern maker and gets dibs on some clothing whenever they are being made so i score these freebies sometimes. that's it for today. hope you guys like what you see!

a new beginning

2010-01-06T20:42:00.000-05:00

happy new year!! so one of my new year's resolutions was to start a blog. and ta-da here i am! the bigger resolution is to start an online clothing store... but baby steps first. i chose the name anonimous beauty because well, beauty is anonymous. it has no name, no identity, and no possession. it is solely in the eye of the beholder. i believe that anything and anyone can be beautiful.. it is all in how you see it. that is why art and fashion is so subjective. my hope is that you will all get to know my style and come to like it. i'm definitely not a fashion expert. i'm just a fashion lover. i love looking at new styles and i especially love shopping. so i thought, why not share with the world all my great buys?? i'm not rich and i don't have a lot of money, but i do know how to find awesome buys aka inexpensive good quality items. so what should you be expecting from my blog you ask? pictures of my day-to-day wear, recent buys, daily/weekly updates on current sales/coupons, and much more. so stay tuned!!