Pretty Little Things

Dark Arts Arrival At Universal Studios Hollywood

2019-07-09T12:59:00.000-07:00

Beware! Dark Arts have arrived at The Wizarding World at Universal Studios Hollywood. In the form of the nighttime light show, that is. Taking place at the Hogwarts castle, evil creatures such as Dementors and Death Eaters descent upon the castle via projection. Accompanied by the music of John Williams, this version of the nighttime spectacle is ominous and sinister.

It has a very different vibe from the Christmas show or the original nighttime spectacular, since it’s about the Dark Arts. This time, the team at Universal Studios Hollywood uses mist, fog, and fire to set the tone, making the audience feel that something eerie is about to begin. The projection, just like in the previous shows, is state-of-the-art. As images of spiders, skulls, and dementors appear on Hogwarts castle, the music builds to its climax until Voldemort’s face materialize on one of towers. As you watch Hogwarts castle taken over by dark magic, Dumbledore’s voice reminds us “Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if only one remembers to turn on the light”. And like magic, Harry’s Patronus appears in the sky. The. Sky. This image is not a projection. The Patronus literally appears out of thin air, like magic. This is done with multiple drones, programmed to create a multi-dimensional image. I should mention that this isn’t a still image either. You’ll actually see the Stag move. I was completely blown away and left in awe. I have never seen anything like this before. Hats off to the creative team at Universal Studios Hollywood for making magic real.

If you have a deep connection with the Harry Potter fandom, this show will definitely tug on your heartstrings. I felt my eyes tear up at the sight of the Patronus light up in the sky. It’s an unbelievable sight and an indescribable feeling.
If you live in Southern California, or planning a trip to the LA area, you have to visit Universal Studios Hollywood and witness this in person. Photos and videos doesn’t do it justice.
You can catch Dark Arts at Hogwarts Castle at Universal Studios Hollywood nightly from June 22th ~ August 11th, 2019.

Visit www.universalstudioshollywood.com for details.

Lunar New Year Celebration At Universal Studios Hollywood

2019-02-19T12:01:00.002-08:00

Lunar New Year is here and Universal Studios Hollywood is joining in on the celebration. From now through February 18th, you can see popular characters such as Hello Kitty dressed in her Lunar New Year attire, Megatron speaking in Mandarin, meet and greet with Po and Tigress,  Mr. Ping’s Noodle Shop serving up flavorful Asian fare, and much more.

Geek and Glitter got to check out the festivities and as we entered the ticketing area, we can already see red lanterns adorning the main gate. This really sets the tone for visitors and there’s even a special brochure listing food locations, entertainment, and exclusive merchandise.

Read more on Geek & Glitter 

How To Crush It In 2019

2019-01-22T11:20:00.001-08:00

Photo via Mochi Things

Each new year is like a fresh start for many of us. Coming off the holiday breaks, you're relaxed, feeling refreshed, and ready to take on the world in 2019! This is when many of us make New Year Resolutions or goals - better eating habits, work on our fitness, be better at balancing work/family, and so on. While many people stick to their resolutions, there are those of us who lose focus after a few months. This is quite common. I have made tons of New Year's resolution but didn't stick with it. I blamed things like not having enough time, too many distractions, blah blah blah.

Two years ago I changed my focus and my view on New Year resolutions. Instead of making a resolution, I focused on setting goals. I didn't restrict myself on how many goals I could set for myself, whether they were long term or short term. What mattered was that by setting goals, I had a clear vision of what to focus on. Since then, I try to set at least 2 long term goal and 3 short term goals at the beginning of the year to see how close I can get to them. 

To avoid setting too many goals and losing focus, I used various journals and books to better guide me. Before we dive into these items, I want you to know that these are things that I came across that happen to work for me. This may or may not work for you but I want to share in case they do help. I'm also not sponsored by any of these productions I'm about to mention.

Read on...

2019-01-14T13:51:00.000-08:00

Star Wars Celebration is just months away, hosted in Chicago this year. This event solely focus on all things Star Wars such as exhibits show floor, screenings, special guests, panels, major announcements, autographs sessions, exclusive merchandise, and so much more. Fans from all over the world will travel to Star Wars Celebration from April 11th through April 15th for an unforgettable experience of a lifetime.

Actress and founder of Her Universe, Ashley Eckstein is no stranger to Star Wars Celebration. Since lending her voice to Ahsoka Tano (Star Wars Clones Wars, Star Wars Rebels), she has become a household name. Her Universe have release countless Star Wars collection exclusively for Star Wars Celebration and this year is no different. In fact, Eckstein took to Instagram to give us a sneak peek at what’s to come.

Read More on Geek & Glitter

Mermaid For A Day

2019-01-14T13:44:00.001-08:00

The mermaid trend is continuing strong in 2018 and we are seeing it everywhere! From Mermaid-inspired treats such as milkshakes and cupcakes to hair color, clothing and makeup looks, you can now make your fantasty into a reality! Thanks to L.A. Mermaid School, I was able to exchange my legs for a tail, no sea witch necessary! This 101 Mermaid course teaches you the basic of being a Mermaid and what it's like to swim with a tail. Real-life mermaid and dive expert Virginia Hankins was our instructor.

For the full post and a video of me swimming with a mermaid tail, visit Geek & Glitter here

DC Comics Activewear by Her Universe (exclusively for Kohl's)

2017-04-22T11:20:00.000-07:00

Last year when Her Universe launched an exclusive collection of Marvel's Avengers inspired activewear, I couldn't get my hands on it fast enough. This year, Her Universe released a DC Comics line featuring Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman!

The collection features various tanks, leggings, sport bras, warmup jackets, and more! Take a look at the items I picked up

Unboxing: Marc Jacobs Beauty Coconut Dew Drops Gel Highlighter

2017-04-15T23:36:00.000-07:00

*I received the product (mentioned in this blog) complimentary to test and review

Summer is approaching and I'm in the market for a new highlighter. Thank my lucky stars - and Influenster and Marc Jacobs Beauty, I received the Coconut Dew Drops Gel Highlighter to test and review.

I've tested Marc Jacobs beauty products in the past and have consistently been impressed with the quality. So the bar was set pretty high for this highlighter. The packaging is very much in line with the other Marc Jacobs products - sleek, sophisticated, and also heavy. It may not travel well since it's usually in a glass container but it looks great on the vanity.

It's in a pump instead of a dropper like I've seen with other liquid or drop-like highlighters, and I much prefer it in a pump because it's more sanitary and its easy to control how much products you want to apply without making a mess.

The highlighter is in a golden shade, and I feel this is a shade that can work for every skin tone. The formula is dense as you'd expect a gel highlighter to be. It's not watery so it doesn't run down the side of your face during application.

A warning for anyone who's doesn't like coconut scented products, this highlighter is infused with coconut water and it smells like coconut (heaven!).

I look forward to testing and reviewing this highlighter for the next couple of weeks! I've been wearing this for the past few days to work and I'm really liking how it looks so far.

Thank you to Influenster and Marc Jacobs Beauty for sending this to me! #CoconutGlow

L'Oreal Extraordinary Clay Hair Care System Review

2017-03-29T16:50:00.001-07:00

As someone who has oily roots and dry ends, this new hair care system from L'Oreal sounds like a dream. I purchased all from products from the collection to see if it'll balance out my hair and maybe I won't be putting dry shampoo in my hair by second hair day.

This collection is called "Extraordinary Clay", and it claims to help rebalance oily roots/scalp while moisturizing ends. It sounds like a perfect match for my hair struggles. Also this whole system is suitable for color treated hair. The collection includes:

Rebalancing shampoo and conditioner
Clay Mask pre-shampoo treatment
Dry shampoo "Clay In A Spray"

The collection is packaged in a pretty teal color and has a fresh scent which is not very overpowering.

Take a look at my video review (demo included) on how the whole system works:

Out of the Box: Maybelline Falsies Push Up Angel Mascara

2016-12-30T10:26:00.002-08:00

As someone who's always on the look out for new mascaras to try, the new addition to the Maybelline Falsies family was a must try. I'm already using the Falsies Push Up Drama mascara and have gotten great results, but I was really enticed by the brush of the Push Up Angel. The comb-style brush is similar to the Revlon Butterfly Effect mascara and Maybelline Lash Sensation mascara, both of which I've tried and loved.

The first thing I noticed was how skinny the brush was, even in comparison to the Lash Sensation and Butterfly. At first glance, it looks like the brush can hold a lot of product, which could cause some clumping during application. But the brush gave me an even application with very minimal clumping, even after 2 coats! Watch my video review of this mascara below:

What do you think? Is this mascara worth trying to you? Or you've tried it, how did it perform for you? Comment below and let me know!

Harry Potter Inspired Brushes by Storybook Cosmetics!

2016-10-15T11:00:00.000-07:00

Makeup fanatics and Potterheads unite! The amazing team at Storybook Cosmetics have just released a 5 piece brush set inspired by Harry Potter wands. Each magical brush features a sleek and gorgeous metal alloy wand handle with synthetic bristles that'll make even a Muggle jealous.

Photo source: Storybook Cosmetics (www.storybookcosmetics.com)

Deer Snapchat Filter Tutorial

2016-10-14T00:37:00.001-07:00

If you follow me on Snapchat, you know that I'm pretty obsessed with their face filters. I find the deer filter especially cute and wanted to recreate it. So if you're in need of any quick costume ideas for Halloween, here's my tutorial for the Snapchat deer filter.

Read more...

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OOTD: Rey-Bounding

2016-09-30T21:32:00.000-07:00

Disney bounding has become a trend amongst all Disney and fashion lovers alike. Naturally, when I'm headed to Disneyland, I try and let my fave Disney characters inspire my OOTD. Being a huge Star Wars fan, I wanted to put a little galactic feel into my outfit so I went with a Rey inspired outfit.

OOTD: Sunday Romance

2016-09-12T00:46:00.001-07:00

I spent a very special Sunday afternoon celebrating the marriage of a friend, and a much needed ice cream date with my hubby.

At Afters Ice Cream

My YoDerm Experience

2016-08-22T14:49:00.001-07:00

*Sponsored Post

I've often wondered if I had easier access of a dermatologist when I was suffering from the worst break out of my life, would I have spared myself the heartache of looking in the mirror and hating what I saw? Maybe I wouldn't have experienced all the name calling or feel need to constantly hide my face under a ton of makeup.

Usually, seeing a dermatologist required an appointment and probably cost a pretty penny if your insurance didn't cover it. But what if you could do so without an appointment and whether or not you had insurance, from the comfort of your own home?
Check out YoDerm for yourself: http://yd.md/starastralis

Beauty News with Wendy: Beauty Blender To Collaborate with Too Faced and Benefit Cosmetics

2016-06-18T10:52:00.001-07:00

In this episode of Beauty News, I'm talking about a major collaboration between Beauty Blender and 2 cult favorite brands, BeautyCon LA finds a new home, and more!

Beauty News with Wendy: Ashley Tisdale Launches Makeup Collection, Too Faced's New Palette, Eyeliner Stickers

2016-06-04T10:02:00.001-07:00

In this episode of Beauty News with Wendy, I'm talking about Ashley Tisdale's new makeup line, a new palette by Too Faced, and more!

YSL Touche Eclat Neutralizer (Review and demo)

2016-02-08T19:17:00.001-08:00

*Product sent to me by Influenster

I have reviewed several YSL products as a part of the Influenster voxbox program. So far, each product has really impressed me. When I found out I was receiving the new Touche Eclat Neutralizer, I was so excited.

Out of the Box: Revlon Ultimate All-In-One Mascara Review

2015-11-09T10:20:00.001-08:00

You've all probably seen it in your local drugstores by new, the new slick mascara by Revlon. Claiming to be the all-in-one mascara, it will lift and define your lashes while also giving you length and volume. Did I mention it's the blackest black?

Covergirl Star Wars Lipstick Giveaway!

2015-10-19T09:00:00.000-07:00

*Not a sponsored giveaway, products purchased by me

Ever since Covergirl announced their Star Wars make-up collection, I've been scouring my local drugstores for it. They were hard to hunt down, but I found the 3 lipsticks and mascara I wanted. A lot of people asked me where I found them, and I thought "If I find more Star Wars lipsticks, I'll do a giveaway for my subscribers." Well... I found them, which means it's GIVEAWAY time!

Star Wars X CoverGirl Makeup Collection Details | Beauty News with Wendy Ep. 9

2015-08-22T18:45:00.001-07:00

In this episode of Beauty News with Wendy:

Star Wars X CoverGirl makeup collection details

Sephora beauty subscription box

New Urban Decay Vice palette

Christian Louboutin lipsticks

Product Spotlight: Dry Shampoo

Michelle Phan Creates Comic Book, MAC X Selena Collection | Beauty News with Wendy Ep. 8

2015-08-09T09:37:00.002-07:00

In this episode of Beauty News with Wendy:

Michelle Phan Creates Comic Book
MAC x Selena Collection
L'oreal Cushion Compact
Lipstick Queen
Garnier Clean Plus

Beauty News with Wendy - Episode 7 Special Comic Con Edition

2015-07-17T17:12:00.001-07:00

In this special Comic Con edition of Beauty News with Wendy:

Her Universe Fashion Show
SDCC Haul
Comic Con Survival Kit

Em Ford Takes On Cyber Bullies, Beauty Blender Blotterozzi | Beauty News with Wendy Ep. 6

2015-07-08T19:35:00.000-07:00

In this episode of Beauty News, I talk about Em Ford (of My Pale Skin on YT)'s viral video, and her standing up against cyberbullying, Beauty Blender's new blotting sponge, and Younique's new mascara debut.

Got questions? Comment below, or tweet me @WendyLeeSzany using #BeautyNewswithWendy

Thanks for watching!

NikkieTutorials Sets New Selfie Trend, Eyelash Perming | Beauty News with Wendy Ep. 5

2015-07-01T00:54:00.000-07:00

In this episode of Beauty News, new selfie trend emerges from NikkieTutorials' viral video, Elf Cosmetics teases new addition to skincare line, and is eyelash perming becoming a "thing"? -- Find out more in the video below.

Got questions? Comment below, or tweet me @WendyLeeSzany, with #BeautyNewsWithWendy

Jem and the Holograms Makeup Line, CoverGirl announces Star Wars Collection | Beauty News with Wendy Ep. 4

2015-06-22T17:39:00.001-07:00

In this episode of Beauty News with Wendy, Rihanna designs flash tattoos, Jessica Alba's Honest Company expands to beauty line, Jem and the Holograms makeup line to debut at Sephora, and Cover Girl to release Star Wars: Force Awakens makeup!
Watch the episode below:

Got beauty questions? Comment below or tweet me @WendyLeeSzany. Be sure to add #BeautyNewswithWendy so I can find them.