Ms. Emmy

Wishlist: Macadamia Natural Oil Deep Repair Masque

2013-01-17T12:09:00.001-08:00

Hey there! I've never tried a hair mask before, but I've always wanted to. The cold, dry winter air zaps my hair of its natural moisture and leaves it all... poofy-looking :( I've started using regular conditioner about two months ago and I don't really see a huge difference.

When I saw Ingrid talk about this hair mask in one of her Youtube videos, it sounded amazingggg. I recently found Ingrid (missglamorazzi) on Youtube and she is now one of my favorite beauty gurus! I love her sweet, bubbly personality. It cheers me up :) Ingrid has great beauty videos too <3

Here's the video where Ingrid mentions the Macadamia hair mask! Skip to 2:15 for her insight :)

After watching Ingrid's video a couple days ago, I decided to look it up. I found it on eBay for about $20. I passed it up because I wanted to learn more about this hair mask before purchasing it. Always research before you splurge!

Yesterday on my Blogger dashboard, I found a review on this hair mask! Sophia from RosyChicc does a wonderful job with providing an extensive review. She has convinced me to buy this mask! You can read Sophia's review here.

So that is it. The Macadamia Natural Oil Deep Repair Masque is officially on my wishlist! I know, it's a bit pricey, but I keep hearing about this mask. I've just gotta try it out for myself! Maybe I can save my hair after all :)

Buy the mask here: http://www.macadamiahair.com/products/detail/deep_repair_masque

Ingrid/ missglamorazzi's channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/missglamorazzi?feature=watch

Sophia's blog: http://rosychicc.blogspot.com/

Sophia's review: http://rosychicc.blogspot.com/2013/01/macadamia-natural-oil-deep-repair.html

Have you ever used hair masks?

Greatest Marriage Proposal

2013-01-14T18:22:00.004-08:00

... that I've seen or heard of, so far! I actually found this on Cosmopolitan's website last week :) Such a beautiful, elaborate, and creative idea of a proposal. Grab a tissue box and enjoy! :)

Boot Search

2013-01-13T21:12:00.000-08:00

I now proclaim the long journey of the Boot Search... over! :) I've been wanting new boots for so long. I've shopped in so many stores, visited the mall numerous times, but had no luck finding "The One." Today, I've found it! And it was only $40 :)

The color is actually more taupe than in the picture. Sorry about my terrible lighting!

Review: Skin 79 The Oriental Gold BB Cream

2013-01-13T20:40:00.003-08:00

I received this Korean BB cream for Christmas and I finally got a chance to test it out! Asians take skincare very seriously... Check out this Michelle Phan video. Asian women use an average of nine skincare products (stated in Michelle's description box)!

What do I think about this product?

It has a great SPF of 25. Sun protection is really important; it can lead to wrinkles and dark spots in the future! I always wear a sunscreen in the morning and with an added SPF 25, my skin will be super protected! :)
The packaging is super cool. I love the lip/ blush compartment. And the way the BB cream comes out of the bottle? You push down on the black top and it pumps out! So fascinating.
The BB cream matches my skin perfectly. There are no shades to choose from. It's supposed to blend with your natural skin tone! Oh, and it blends really easily. It's a light cream :)
It also absorbs right into my skin. Doesn't feel heavy or leave any residue.
Light fragrant scent.
Extremely moisturizing. I cannot put into words how moisturizing this BB cream is! It's like my skin takes a giant gulp of water!
I'm not really sure how much this costs... it was a gift, but I've seen Skin 79 products sell for about $20-$30 USD.

In conclusion, the only thing I can really say is... I absolutely love this product. I will definitely repurchase this. However, I'm one of those people who fall in love with materialistic things and can never bring myself to using them! I lovelovelove this BB cream :) I haven't used the lip/ cheek color yet, but it is a really pretty color!

Buy Skin 79 products here!

Here's Ingrid's Youtube review on another Skin 79's BB cream:

Michelle Phan's channel
Ingrid's channel

I hope you enjoyed this product review! <3

Review: Ribby Rue 100% Pure Tea Tree Oil

2013-01-11T22:21:00.000-08:00

Hey guys! It's been almost a week since I first started applying this to my face. Tea tree oil has been on my wishlist for quite some time because I've heard about the great benefits in curing acne. What else can tea tree oil be used for? Here are 20 great uses.

I've incorporated the tea tree oil into my evening skincare routine. After I cleansed my face and applied moisturizer, I grab a cotton swab and dip it into the tea tree oil container. Then I dab the swab onto my affected areas.

What do I think about this product?

Tea tree oil can be pricey. I've seen little bottles priced at $7-$10 in stores. I bought my little 1-inch bottle on eBay for $3.
It might be just this brand, but I haven't noticed any major differences. All I can say is the redness on my face has decreased. The pores could have shrunk a teeny tiny bit, but I don't think the tea tree oil is responsible for that.
The smell is a little strange and strong, but not repulsive (to me at least!).

In conclusion, I will not purchase this particular brand again. For $3, I was hoping the bottle would be slightly bigger. I don't think this bottle will last me very long. Two weeks at the most, if I were to use it every night. However, I will continue to try other tea tree oil products. In fact, I bought the tea tree oil cleanser from The Body Shop a few days ago ;) I can't wait to test that one out!

Review: ELF Tinted Moisturizer

2013-01-09T22:41:00.002-08:00

Hello again! I have decided to review my ELF Tinted Moisturizer that I've had for a long time. I used this today and thought, why not? I bought mine from Target for $3.

What do I think about this product?

It's really affordable. You can buy it from Target or online at eyelipsface.com. Here's the direct link to this particular product: ELF Tinted Moisturizer.
It has a mousse-like texture, which I like. This gives it a light coverage.
If you wear it alone, it's very drying and not moisturizing enough. Be sure to apply your normal moisturizer before this product.
It is pretty easy to blend with my fingers. Just make sure to blend it very well or it will look splotchy.
There is a really light fragrant scent. Barely noticeable.
It has SPF 20, which I like :)
It also contains aloe, cucumber extract, and vitamins A, C, and E!
I have the moisturizer in Porcelain. There are 7 shades to choose from.

In conclusion, I would buy this product again. It's affordable and works pretty good as a tinted moisturizer. I like the natural ingredients and the SPF. The only downside for me is that there isn't enough coverage. I still need to apply concealer afterwards. Two important things to remember are to moisturize beforehand and to blend it out really well.

Generally, I think ELF has great, affordable products :)

UPDATE

I forgot to mention that this tinted moisturizer has a yellow undertone. I was watching a Youtube video today and the girl was ranting how terrible this product is just because it didn't match her skin tone. This tinted moisturizer actually matches mine perfectly. Please remember this before you go out and buy it!

Mall Haul

2013-01-09T19:47:00.000-08:00

Hey guys! I'm still finishing up my roommate's birthday present. I've gotten her... 18 little gifts so far. I know, it's a lot! But she's extremely special to me :) I went to the mall today with Jonathan and here's what I got:

1. American Eagle gift card. This is actually for my friend Megan, who also has a January birthday! Megan and I have been friends since middle school :)
2. A little trinket box from Hallmark. Super, duper cute! I couldn't pass this one up!
3. The Body Shop gift card.
4. Sanrio characters notepad.
5. Sanrio letter set.
6. Mini Pooh bear from Hallmark. Oh man, these were so cute! I really wanted the Ariel, or the Minnie Mouse... or the Mickey Mouse... I couldn't decide on just one, so I didn't get any for myself :(
7. Animal stickers from Hallmark. These were only $1 each!
8. Body Shop goodies: Seaweed Matifying Day Cream (I bought 2) and Tea Tree Oil Face Wash. These are for myself. The Body Shop was having a really big sale. I decided on buying 3 minis, for $10 :)

I also bought a cute top from American Eagle. It's just a simple taupe-color flow-y shirt. AE had a sale, too! I bought the shirt for only $7.50! :)

Review: Revlon Nail Polish in Temptress

2013-01-09T19:30:00.002-08:00

Hi everyone! I will be reviewing the Revlon Nail Polish in Temptress. I received this polish as part of my Christmas gift from one of my roommates.

What do I think about this product?

I really like the pastel pink color. It's simple and perfect for any outfit!
The formula is a little watery to me... it dripped onto my carpet! :(
I've also noticed some streaking. The polish dried kinda patchy... maybe another coat will help.
I think Revlon nail polishes retail for about $8? I'm not sure, since this was a gift. Correct me if I'm wrong! I normally just buy Wet n' Wild nail polish because they're only $0.99, but colors are limited.

In conclusion, I think this is an alright nail polish. The only thing I really like is the color. I don't think I would buy this polish for myself. I'm sure I can find the same color with a different brand. I just really don't like the watery-streaky formula. And like I said, I don't spend too much on nail polish. My bottles last forever and painting nails requires too much patience!

Target Haul

2013-01-08T15:48:00.001-08:00

I'm finally home. What a long day. I woke up at 7 AM for a dentist appointment. It was really quick, only took about half an hour. Then Jon picked me up and we got McDonalds for breakfast. I like my hash browns and orange juice! We ate at his house and watched "Game of Thrones" on his computer. After that, we went to Target and had Japanese for lunch. We ordered bento boxes, as usual. Jon also got a side of Flaming Shrooms (super yummy) and I ordered a Spider roll. I've had better Spider rolls... :( Before Jon dropped me off at home, I went to get a haircut! I chopped off about 6 inches and it's about shoulder-length right now. I asked for layers too. I'm not sure if I like it yet; I will see tomorrow, after I sleep on it. Jonathan says he loves it. I asked him on a scale of 1-10, how much? He replied with 11.

Here's what I got at Target!

1. Blistex Lip Balms ($0.99, $1.22)

2. $20 Gift Card

3. Customizable Notebook (you can add your own picture! $3.99)

4. Picture Frame ($4.19)

5. Fuzzy Socks ($3.00)

6. Suave Keratin Infusion Dry Shampoo ($3.49)

7. Nexcare Pimple Stickers ($3.25 on eBay)

Items 1 to 5 will be gifts to my roommate's upcoming birthday. She will be turning 20! :)

I've always wanted to try a dry shampoo. I used the Tresemme one a few times at my cousin's house and I didn't really like it. At Target, I only found dry shampoos for a few brands and I decided on the Suave.

Have you guys tried these pimple stickers? You're supposed to stick one on a full whitehead, sleep with it on overnight, and it should pull out everything by next morning! I actually got this from eBay and I found this little box just waiting for me after my haircut :) Watch this video to learn more about how these stickers work:

MszJackieChu's Youtube channel

Review: Tresemme Heat Tamer Spray

2013-01-07T22:52:00.001-08:00

Hey guys! This is an empty bottle of heat protectant spray from Tresemme. I've gone through about... three or four of these. I really don't use any hair products... just shampoo and this Tresemme spray, if I remember to. I just recently started using conditioner since my hair was really dry. Currently, I am using Herbal Essences Long Term Relationship shampoo and conditioner. It smells amazing :) Also, I have a Garnier Fructis Leave-In Conditioner. I'm not sure how I feel about leave-ins, yet.

What do I think about this product?

Totally inexpensive. It's about $4 at Target.
Smells nice. Like a fruity-floral scent.
The spray itself is perfect. It's not too concentrated (like a water gun). It's actually more like a perfume bottle kind of spray :)
I actually didn't think this spray had any effect... until I stopped using it. Last year, I stopped using it and blow-dried my hair more than ever. Worst idea ever. My hair is still so very dry; that is why I've turned to conditioners, hoping to replenish my shine and softness.

In conclusion, I like this heat protectant spray enough to repurchase, but I'm open to other brands. I've learned the importance of protecting my hair when I blow-dry my hair. Since I haven't tried any other brands, I'm wondering if there are more effective sprays than the Tresemme. I'm looking for one to protect and add shine; I'm trying to hydrate my hair as fast as I can!

Recently, I bought a heat protectant from Aussie. I've used it only once so far and it smells great. I'll be sure to review it soon :)

Christmas 2012: Part 3

2013-01-07T14:48:00.001-08:00

Hey guys! My boyfriend spent Christmas and New Years in Oklahoma, so I didn't get my presents or a New Year's kiss :( But I'm glad he was able to spend time with his family and arrive safely back in California! I saw him earlier today for the first time since he left for Oklahoma. It's the first time I saw him in 2013!

Here's what he got me for (late) Christmas:

1. 2 Moleskin notebooks, 1 plain and 1 ruled. I remember showing these notebooks to Jonathan and telling him these are nice, but they're too expensive. To make the notebooks more special, he wrote sweet messages on a few pages in the lined book and drew a few pictures in the blank book :) That's pretty special to me because he doesn't normally do those kinds of things! I don't recall the store we were in, but I do know Moleskin notebooks are sold in Barnes and Nobles!

2. Winnie-the-Pooh stickers. Why? Because I cited a Pooh quote to Jon!

"Pooh?" asked Piglet. "You have a lot of friends, don't you?"

"Yes," replied Pooh. "But only one Piglet."

3. A Coby Digitcal Photo Keychain. I actually don't have a story for this one, but I've never had one of these before!

4. A big, fluffy pillow! (unpictured) I don't have a story for this one either... but I love it because Jon's mommy made the pillowcase! The seams are little hearts, hehehe.

This is the last of my Christmas 2012 posts. Check the first and second ones here: Part 1/ Part 2

Recent News + Oil Blotting Sheets and Pore Strips

2013-01-07T14:09:00.001-08:00

Hello everyone! I hope you all had a fantastic weekend :) To sum my weekend up, I came back home after spending a week babysitting at my cousin's place, I had dim sum yesterday with my parents, and ran a few errands after that. Last night, I decided to clean my room. I didn't finish, of course :P When I came back on Saturday, there was just a bunch of random things sitting on my desk and I'm working on getting rid of them. I'm away for college, but that doesn't stop my mom from coming into my room and storing things everywhere...

I organized my box of letters and cards from years and years ago. I realized how much I missed writing and reading letters, so I wrote five last night! I know, crazy. But I had fun :)

This morning, Jonathan came over and we hung out at my house for a bit. Then we went to eat lunch at a local diner. I had a Cuban sandwich, which has pulled pork, pickles, and mustard. Jonathan had a massive breakfast plate with all of his favorites :)

He finally gave me my Christmas present, and I will create a separate post for that in a bit!

After lunch, Jonathan had to go to work, so I came back home and found two more packages for me in the mail, hehe!

I got oil blotting tissues and more pore strips! These are different from the other ones I bought because these are made from charcoal! This is like a mini haul kind of post; however, my items are slowly coming in the mail. I bought a ton of stuff on eBay a few weeks ago. I decided to post along the way and then do a summary/ group photo later :)

Tea Tree Oil + Pore Strips

2013-01-05T23:36:00.002-08:00

Hey guys! I'm finally back home, after spending a week at my cousin's to help babysit her four month old boy :) It was really nice to spend time with my cousin and her husband because they live a couple of hours away. My week consisted of changing diapers, waking up to 7 AM cries, eating cereal every morning, speaking baby language, and making dinner for everyone! It was a little stressful when I couldn't tell what the baby wanted. The three main things babies want are: food, sleep, and diaper changes. I can safely say that I am now a Master Diaper Changer :P I only need one hand and about 10 seconds, ha!

I got home around 7 PM. Ate dinner, showered, unpacked, the usual. Then I found a few packages that arrived, tehe.

I've been wanting to try tea tree oil for a while because I've heard about its' awesome benefits for acne. This little guy stands only 1 inch tall and costed about $3 on eBay. I opened the cap and sniffed it a bit. It certainly has a strong smell, but I can handle it :) I'll be sure to post about this in a week or so, after I've tested it out!

I also bought pore strips for my nose. I love these things! I always buy them on eBay because they are so much cheaper! These were made in Korea, but there's Japanese characters on the packaging. No clue why. But what you do is wet your nose and apply the strip directly on your nose. Smooth out any air bubbles and wait until the pore strip dries completely. Then, you rip it off! It hurts for a few seconds, but you get to see all the gross things hidden in your nose :) It's best to use when your pores are open (i.e. after a hot shower).

After my shower, I decided to paint my toenails... with my favorite toe color! This copper polish is from Ulta. It goes on very smoothly, dries fairly quickly, and looks great with my skin tone :)

I hope you had a fantastic Saturday :)

Beauty O'holic's Best Beauty Blog Award

2013-01-04T21:53:00.000-08:00

Hello again! Back in July, when I first created this blog, I didn't think about making friends or receiving awards and now, here I am, making friends and receiving awards! A couple of days ago, Lainey nominated me for the Liebster Award (woohoo!) and today, she has granted me another award! Beauty O'holic's Best Beauty Award.

Lainey is actually a part-time blogger at Beauty O'holic :) The creator of Beauty O'holic is Meredith and, as Lainey stated in this post, Meredith decided to create her own award!

What are the rules?

Be thoughtful by thanking and linking back to your nominee. I think this is the most important rule.
Write 10 random facts about yourself.
Then answer your nominee's 10 questions.
Nominate 10 other beauty bloggers. I guess my blog is becoming a beauty blog... :)
Write 10 questions for those lovely people you just nominated.
Their blogs must have the blogspot.com domain.
And finally, add the award to your blog :)

10 Random Facts About Emmy

1. I'm taller than my mom. And I'm only five feet tall!

2. I learned how to knit and crochet in middle school. I even made a teddy bear!

3. The first time I got my ears pierced was in fifth grade. I got them redone in high school, sophomore year. Those are my only piercings still.

4. I love the classic, original Pokemon with Ash, Misty, and Brock. Who are those characters nowadays?!

5. I used to bite my nails in elementary school. Then I realized my nails became hideous and uneven, so I stopped.

6. I love roller coasters. Just until I start to feel sick :P

7. 18-20-22... Jonathan's birthday (which is the same as my brother's, haha!), our anniversary, and my birthday. Evenly spaced out.

8. I'm a Libra, which is the balanced scales. This might explain why I think #7 is pretty cool.

9. I like to think of myself as a good writer. Of course I'm always improving, but I'm proud of what I can put together in those ten-page essays.

10. My current roommate, Sara, and I are friends, sisters, and "lovers." As in we like to hold hands and hug, and we have nicknames for each other :P

Lainey's Questions For Me

1. What is your favorite thing about blogging?

Oh, man. This is a tough question. I like to write and design. Making friends through the blogging world is great. I think my most favorite thing is either coming up with interesting posts (because they always turn out better than expected) or feeling proud and accomplished (because my readers are so awesome!).

2. How do you store your beauty products?

Since I travel a bit from college to home and back again, I keep my essentials in a makeup bag. When I'm not traveling, I have a teal makeup organizer thing to keep my things organized :) In each compartment, I separate my products by face, eyes, and lips.

3. Have you met any friends through blogging?

No, not yet. I hope to, one day :)

4. Do you have a favorite movie or TV series?

I don't... but I love the Pixar movies, some girly things like "27 Dresses" and "Sweet Home Alabama," and I actually don't mind watching action/ adventure and drama movies. TV series? I don't really watch TV... but I've been loving "Once Upon a Time" <3

5. What was your main reason for starting a blog?

I'm in my second year of college, and in my first, I had a lot of free time. I napped and played games all the time! This school year, I wanted a change. And I've had a few blogs before, so I decided to try and make this one more successful. And it sure is :)

6. How long have you been blogging?

I think I created my first blog when I was about 15. I've had Ms. Emmy since July 2012.

7. If you could have anything in the world, right now, what would it be?

The first thing that came to mind was good health, because today I wasn't feeling well. I almost fainted. But then, if I think about it some more... I would like some cake, please! I had a dream about cake the other night...

8. Chocolate or Vanilla?

Vanilla! Vanilla cake and vanilla ice cream! Yum!

9. Have you won a blog award before?

Yes, I have! Just three days ago, I won the Liebster Award! Check it out here.

10. Would you rather play up your eyes or lips?

Eyes. I actually don't wear anything on my lips. I lick and chew on my lips a lot. Bad habit, I know.

Who Do I Nominate?

Blush and Brunch

Your Sweetest Drug

Clouds and Cuticle Oil

Katie Alyse

The Beauty and Lifestyle Hunter

That's all I got... I honestly don't follow a lot of beauty blogs. I need to search for some more!

10 Questions For My Nominees

1. What is your favorite moisturizer of all time?

2. Do you shave or wax? Other?

3. How many colors have you dyed your hair?

4. What is your favorite nail polish color for your toes?

5. If you could only bring one, which would you choose: a straightener or curler?

6. What kind of hair products do you recommend?

7. What's your go-to lip color?

8. Have you ever had any skin problems?

9. What's your favorite body lotion?

10. What was the worst beauty product you've ever used?

My First Professional Facial

2013-01-04T20:43:00.003-08:00

Hey guys! I can finally say I got a real facial! :) It was so nice and relaxing. The esthetician DeAnn was super nice and great to talk to. My cousin Maggie actually started going to DeAnn's little clinic a few months before she got married so her skin could clear up for the wedding photos. And Maggie looked amazing on her wedding day. That was seven years ago. Maggie and DeAnn are now close friends and Maggie has seen DeAnn many, many times. Today, I was lucky enough to come along :)

The facial lasted about an hour. DeAnn also did a little massaging on my shoulders, arms, and hands. I can't say what she used because my eyes were closed the entire time! But I know she cleansed my face multiple times, did two different types of facials (one was a pumpkin enzyme... smelled DELICIOUS), extracted some of the gunk on my face, put me under a steamer, etc.

The end result? I still have my pimples, of course, but my pores are not congested anymore! My face looked brighter and clearer. My skin felt smoother and softer.

So is $70 worth it? Yes.

I know, it's pricey. It's a one-time price tag. But it's worth it. I have lots of confidence that my skin will be much better in the next following weeks :)

What did I learn about acne today?

Using the same cleanser morning and night actually helps. I've been doing this for about a week because I didn't want to bring two cleansers to my cousin's place. I've actually seen a difference; my skin has improved a little bit in just a week.
If you want to pop a pimple, make sure your pores are clean and opened. Hover your face over steam or take a hot bath. Then, use Q-tips and not your fingers to pop the head of the pimple. Why is this important? One, there is less pressure (compared to using your fingers) and can reduce the chances of scarring. Two, it's much more sanitary. Afterwards, clean the area again with warm water.
Use a little bit of pressure when you cleanse. Lather your cleanser with a bit of water between your palms. In a circular motion, cleanse your face until you've covered your face completely. Then, arch your hands (as if you're typing on a keyboard) and apply a bit of pressure as you continue cleansing in a circular motion. What this does is break down the nasty stuff in your pores. It will lift the gunk to the surface of your skin and your pores will be clean!

I hope these tips are helpful.

If you are in the San Francisco area, come check out DeAnn. She really is amazing. Yelp page is here. Website (with a pricing chart) is here. Remember: it is by appointment only and it is just DeAnn working in the clinic, so she can be booked for a few days.

Who doesn't like Ferrero Rocher?!

Handmade Birthdays

2013-01-02T17:07:00.000-08:00

A few days ago at my cousin's, I made handmade birthday cards :) I only made two good ones and then I got tired :P

My cousin's baby is four months old now! Sleep, eat, play, cry. Repeat.

The Liebster Award

2013-01-01T20:21:00.002-08:00

My first blog award. Ever. The Liebster Award. And on New Year's Day! Woohoo :D

A huge thank you to Lainey for nominating me!

What is the Liebster Award?
Supposedly, it is an award given to blogs with less than 200 or 300 followers. The purpose is for the world to discover new and exciting blogs! I never thought of my blog as exciting... that makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside, hehe!

What are the rules?

You must link back to the blogger who nominated you.
If you are nominated, write 11 random facts about yourself and answer the 11 questions your nominator came up for you :)
Create 11 new questions and nominate 11 other blogs! :D

Let's get started...

11 Random Facts about Emmy

1. I don't have a middle name.

2. I love food! All kinds. Sushi, pizza, spaghetti, cake. I had a dream last night about cake, actually...

3. I'm too lazy to clean my room. I do like to organize makeup, nail polish, and other beauty products :)

4. I was the kid in elementary school with glasses. Yep, that was me.

5. I've been to Disneyland way too many times. DisneyWorld... once.

6. I like fuzzy socks and feeling warm.

7. I've never gone camping before. I'm waiting for Jon to take me, hehe.

8. I've never met another Emmy.

9. I have giggling fits. A lot.

10. I had a lot of blogs before, but they were unsuccessful, so I deleted it.

11. I happen to like my pale skin and honey brown-colored eyes :)

Lainey's Questions for Me

1. What is your favorite beauty product?

I haven't found the perfect makeup or hair product yet... just things that I admire. The first thing that comes to mind is my Clinique moisturizer and Clean & Clear cleanser, which both are more skincare items.

2. Do you have a favorite blog to read?

I really like Lainey's (har har har) and a few other blogs... which I will nominate below ;)

3. What is the #1 thing you hope to accomplish in 2013?

Probably get into the Health Science program at my university. It's my priority right now. Blogging is important too, but I need to get into that program!

4. What's your favorite thing to do on a rainy day?

Well, I don't really like being in the rain, so I like to stay in. I've never done this, but I would like to watch movies and drink hot chocolate with the fireplace burning! :)

5. Would you rather read the book or see the movie?

I don't think I've done a book-movie combination before, so I can't really answer this question.

6. Heels, Wedges, or Flats?

I don't really like wedges and heels are so gorgeous, but I like to keep my feet in the comfy-zone, so... flats it is!

7. Do you use any social networking sites to promote your blog? If so, what are they?

I actually don't... the only promoting I do is leaving my link on other blogs :P

8. If you could only wear one color for the next 10 years, what would it be?

Hmm, probably black. It's so versatile!

9. On average, how many pageviews does your blog get per day?

Maybe close to 100. I've only had my blog since July and it's still growing :)

10. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

I like California. Northern California. What city? Undecided.

11. How long does it take you to write a blog post, including pictures and editing?

Okay, this post is taking the longest. And I've paused and come back a number of times. Usually my posts take about 15-20 minutes.

Who do I nominate? (Random order)

This might be a little hard for me to come up with 11, because I don't follow a lot of blogs...

Una's Fashion and Travel

Okay, that's all I got... unless I can nominate Lainey, even though she was nominated today! ;)

11 Questions For My Nominees

1. What's your least favorite fruit?

2. How often do you post?

3. What's your favorite flower?

4. If the sky could be any color, which color would you choose?

5. What's your favorite thing in your bedroom?

6. If you had the ability to name yourself, what would it be?

7. What kind of superpower would you like?

8. How do you like your eggs?

9. Have you traveled outside of your country? Where?

10. Do you have any bad habits?

11. Why is your best friend, your best friend?

A Look Back

2013-01-01T14:54:00.001-08:00

Happy 2013, everyone! :) 2012 was been pretty amazing. I think it's safe to say it might have been the best year of my life so far. So many incredible things happened...

Jonathan came into my life January 20, 2012. I learned he had a secret crush on my for years. I learned how to be a better person and girlfriend. I went to a water park for the first time. I watched fireworks at the exposition center for the first time. I tried handmade ice cream for the first time. And the list of many adventures just keeps going on. With Jon, the fun just never stops :)
I volunteered and worked over summer. I had a busy summer, volunteering at an elementary school and working a part-time job. Something about those six-year olds just makes me want to become a teacher again. It was something totally different; I never spent so much time with kids before! And it turned out to be a lot of fun. Working was blah, lol. It was boring and way too hot.
I created this blog near the end of July. Even though I was extremely busy over summer, I still found time to start a blog. My blog started out as a personal blog, but is now slowly becoming a beauty blog. I really like reviewing beauty products! Speaking about beauty...
I met Lainey, an amazing beauty blog author. She is so sweet and we help each other as bloggers in so many ways :) Lainey gives me hope. There are times when I feel like deleting my blog would be a better idea since I didn't see my blog going anywhere. But she showed me how great my little masterpiece is :) And I would like to thank all of my followers and readers.
I took on a new path in life. Two weeks before my sophomore year of college began, I received a devastating email. It proclaimed my major/ field of study was cut by the department. I was angry, confused and frustrated. I chose my university because of that major! My fellow classmates felt the same pain I felt and a few months later, I decided on another path: Health Science.
I've gained a few extremely valuable friends. Sara and Ada, aka my roommates! <3 It's a bad idea when we're bored. We can talk the entire night, about random things. They've been there every single time I needed comfort and support. I love them so very much!

So there we have it. A summary of my 2012 chapter.

Why don't we take the days of 2013 as pages of a book? Make each day interesting and fun. A boring day will surely be forgotten. A boring page in a book will surely be skipped.

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Hotmail Spam Emails

2012-12-31T11:50:00.000-08:00

It's New Year's Eve! What do you guys have planned? I don't really celebrate the New Year because we have Chinese New Year, which is usually in late January. Every year, Chinese New Year falls on a different day. Looking at a Chinese calendar is the only way I can tell when the big day is :P Crazy, huh?

Well, I have been babysitting these past few days and yesterday while the baby was sleeping, I handmade a few cards! I'll post about that one later, with pictures and all.

This post will be about the dreaded spam emails. I've had my Hotmail account for about... six years now. And I can probably say majority of the emails I receive... are spam! There is no one way to get rid of this problem, but here are a few tips I have used:

Be careful who you share your email with. I created a separate email for college purposes only and I used it for applying to scholarships. In return, it seems as if the companies sold my email to advertisers. Any company can sell your email. Even something as innocent as a scholarship! Treat your email like your phone number.
Unsubscribe. One very time-consuming method is to click through each spam email and find the "unsubscribe" link at the bottom. I used this method for a while, until I realized it didn't help much. Then I read an article that doing this can even bring in more spam. How? If the company sees you are an active user of that email address, they will bug you even more.
Block them. This is another time-consuming method, but I find it to be the most useful. Since I have a Hotmail, I go to Options > Safe and Blocked Senders > Blocked Senders. Then, I open each email (again, this might not be very safe) and find the sender of the spam email. I take the domain and enter it onto the Blocked Senders list. What is the domain part of the email? @IWantToSpamYou.com, @SpamCompany.com... it's basically the last part of the email. The domain includes the @ symbol. What this does is, any email with that domain will be blocked. The spam could be sent from a Robert or Bill with the same domain. Both emails will be blocked :)

These are a few methods I use or have used to combat those annoying spam emails. What are your strategies?

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Okay, so I forgot to add a random picture yesterday. I'm just going to stick a cute kitty in here... hehe.

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"Red" by Taylor Swift

2012-12-28T23:08:00.000-08:00

I'm a pretty big Taylor Swift fan. The first song I heard was "Teardrops On My Guitar." I liked it so much that I had it on repeat for weeks and I learned the lyrics perfectly. Since then, Taylor Swift has crafted some incredible songs. I accidentally stumbled across her "Red" album on Youtube... the FULL VERSION. Enjoy!

0:06 - State of Grace
4:58 - Red
8:38 - Treacherous
12:38 - I Knew You were Trouble
16:16 - All Too Well
21:41 - 22
25:31 - I Almost Do
29:31 - We are Never Ever Getting Back Together
32:43 - Stay Stay Stay
36:08 - The Last Time
41:03 - Holy Ground
44:23 - Sad Beautiful Tragic
49:05 - The Lucky One
53:00 - Everything Has Changed
57:03 - Starlight
1:00:38 - Begin Again

Upcoming Week

2012-12-28T17:12:00.001-08:00

Hey guys! Tomorrow, I am taking the train to my cousin's place :) She's the one with the baby and I will be helping out for one whole week. My cousin Maggie is about to start working again and needs all the help she can get :)

I'm going to put product reviews on hold. Instead, I'll probably be talking about random happenings in San Mateo.

Anyways, have you guys tried tea candy?! I normally don't like hard candies, but this is an exception!

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I bought the Green Tea Latte (middle) for $1.89, which is a good deal since you get 40 pieces. There were lots of green tea varieties at the Filipino market. The brand is "Bali's Best." I don't think I've ever seen these around before... so I'm not sure where else sells these yummy drops :( However, I did find it on eBay :P

Have a good day :)

Review: Laura Geller The Real Deal Concealer

2012-12-27T13:56:00.000-08:00

One of the many gifts my friend Sue gave me for Christmas this year was a concealer from Laura Geller. The color is "Light," which actually looks much darker than the picture. It's more like an orange-y beige color. I have naturally fair skin and didn't think this concealer would work for me.

What do I think about this product?

It looks really orange-y but once it's blended out, the concealer matches my skin perfectly.
Really amazing coverage. Sue once said this stuff can cover up a tattoo. I wouldn't doubt it.
The texture is a creamy mousse and it can be a little heavy.
After blending out the concealer, my face was really cakey.
It's $22 for less than 1 oz.

In conclusion, this Laura Geller concealer is great. It seriously does cover up any blemishes or dark undereye circles. However, powdering your face afterwards is a must. It is really important step that cannot be skipped. Another thing is: use a very tiny, tiny amount. A little really goes a long way. I am going to predict this little bottle will last me a year or two. I might purchase this concealer in the future, but the price is a little high. Also, I think liquid concealers just feel better, but I think that's just me :P

I currently use a liquid concealer from Cargo and it's a lot easier to blend out. It doesn't feel heavy on my face either. The downside is that coverage isn't as great as this Laura Geller product.

You can check out the true color and buy the Laura Geller The Real Deal Concealer at Ulta here.

Christmas 2012: Part 2

2012-12-26T18:54:00.003-08:00

Hey there! Today's the day after Christmas. There are lots of good sales right after the big day, but I didn't go this year. Did you? Instead, I spent my day hanging out with one of my bestest friends ever... Sue! :) We just sat in her room for about 5 hours and talked. I love friends like these where you can talk about anything and everything until your jaw is tired of talking! I haven't seen Sue since summer, but I still consider her my sister and best friend. Here's what she got me for Christmas (and my birthday, which was in October, but we haven't seen each other since):

Random picture of almost everything Sue gave me :)

Benefit Mineral Foundations

Skin 79 BB Cream, MAC eyeshadow, Laura Geller concealer, Burt's Bee's chapstick, Missha BB Cream, Benefit High Beam highlighter

More facials! :D

The yellow Morning Burst! How'd she know?!

What else did Sue get me?

A Sandisk flash drive
Tampons (lol)
Box of brownies
Chocolate things you melt (think chocolate-dipped strawberries!)
Scrapbooking ribbon

And...

A black Coach purse! (I'll put a picture up soon! :D)

I love my best frienddddddd <3

Christmas 2012

2012-12-25T21:14:00.004-08:00

Merry Christmas, everyone! I hope you all had a great time with your family and ate lots of delicious food :) I didn't get out of bed until 11:30 AM and then I just watched TV until dinner, haha! We had a big family dinner with the usual Chinese dishes. Since this will just be a little short post, here's what I got for Christmas!

Scrapbook, candle, shampoo + condition sample, notepad set, nail polish

Forever 21 socks

Cat book!

Inside of cat book!

Honey facial mask

Candle

Nail polish and lip balm

Philosophy body wash and lip gloss set

Lucky cat phone charm

Vanilla hand soap and lotion set

Tell me about your Christmas! Family traditions? Favorite dish? Got an awesome gift?

Mini Haul: Sanrio Hello Kitty Store

2012-12-23T23:02:00.000-08:00

1. Little Twin Stars eraser
2. Rilakkuma Duckie notepad (the head is the notepad!)
3. Japanese girl notebooks
4. Sugerbunnies letter set (Sugarbunnies is a newer Sanrio character group)
5. Keroppi stickers and a Hello Kitty eraser

Recently, I learned a new trick to take clearer pictures with my Nikon point-and-shoot! Zoom in all the way and use macro mode. I'm still getting used to it, but my pictures have been amazing! If I didn't use the zoom + macro combo, my pictures would be one big blur! I think the first and last picture came out the best :)

What tips do you use for your camera?

Hope you enjoyed this mini haul! It's almost Christmas :D