My bed & night stand – the only part of the home that’s close to being done

The other parts of the home are still messy – we have random boxes and items lying around because we’d do some work on one room, move to another the next weekend, and then work on another room the third week. Talk about systematic huh

I also celebrated my 25th birthday at the end of March, though there actually wasn’t much of a celebration since we were so busy with the move! It was great being able to spend it with my parents though, since I now only get to see them once a year Oh and I got this from my fiance

Louis Vuitton Alma BB – it comes with a shoulder strap so you can wear it 3 ways!

This little darling is my first luxury brand¹ purse, and even now I’m still hesitant to carry it because I’m deathly scared of it getting any scratches D: But I do love the red – it’ll be perfect for the spring/summer season

Now for darling number 2, which was a lot less expensive than the LV, but I adore it just as much:

Infiniti Pro Spin Air Rotating Styler by Conair – $38.83

Seriously, how did I not purchase this sooner?? I’ve always loved the blowdry results I get at hair salons, but I cannot use a blowdryer AND brush together for my life. This is essentially a blowdryer + brush in one, so I can dry my hair AND get volume + curls all in less than 20 minutes It’s pretty amazing:

No curling iron involved! And no face because it was a no-makeup day

So those are the highlights of my life for the past 2 months! Hopefully I’ll have more time to relax and blog in the coming months – this 30+ days MIA was a bit obscene.

And of course, one of the first thing that comes to mind when going Cherry Blossom sight seeing is what am I going to wear? Seeing as most of my clothes are still in boxes, I’ve planned one out using Style In View:

When I think of cherry blossoms, the words pink, feminine, and romantic come to mind. But too much pink would be an overkill, so I’ve added black pieces to balance out the girliness, and keep it season appropriate. Hopefully the weather warms up soon enough so that I could actually wear a dress soon!

What plans do you have for the spring? Do share!

Mixing and matching bracelets to create unique styles

The more I started mixing and matching my jewelry, the more I realized, you don’t need a lot of different pieces to create different looks! I switched out one piece from the ensemble above, and now I have something a little less dainty, a little more edgy:

I switched the pink & silver charm bracelet for the flower beaded bracelet

The second thing I learned is when it comes to layering, costume jewelry plays much better with each other than expensive pieces, not to mention they’re much more affordable. One of my favorite places to shop for those pieces is Old Navy – they have some seriously cute jewelry!

Lastly, and probably irrelevant, is that I still prefer silver jewellery to gold jewelry. I’ve definitely been more open to the latter now, and even accumulated a few pieces, but I just find silver jewelry much easier to match with my clothes

What recent accessory obsessions do you have? Are you a fan of mixing and matching jewelry? Do let me know

• a beautiful and intuitive user interface, no exceptions
• ability to sync with Google and iCloud calendars
• day, week, and monthly views
• ability to integrate a to-do lists/tasks

Seriously, am I asking for too much? D: Apparently not because lately I’ve not found 1, but 3 amazing iPhone calendar apps that will blow the default app out of the water

Tempo

Tempo Smart Calendar – Free

This app is absolutely gorgeous. It’s clean, minimal, sleek, yet is extremely powerful. I love being able to see my events AND all the related emails and contacts, right from the app. Being able to search for directions and wish my Facebook friends happy birthday on 1 screen is also a plus. Oh and did I mention the ability to add your own photo to customize the agenda view?

The only downside is the terrible wait time. I was lucky and got in before they implemented their waiting list, but I would wait all over again because it’s totally worth it. 

Event Book

Event Book – Free

I found this app soon after Tempo, and while it doesn’t sync with your email or Facebook, you don’t have to wait to use it. The UI is clean and well-designed, and the week view is one of the best I’ve seen! My only concern is that because it’s developed by an 18-year old (kudos to him!), the support and future updates might be unstable. However, it’s still a better calendar app then the default iOS one, by far

Sunrise

Sunrise – Free

Last but not least, there’s Sunrise. Maybe people use this as an alternative to Tempo due to the latter’s obscene wait, since they have similar functionalities and both sync with Facebook. Two huge drawbacks for me: Sunrise only syncs with Google Calendar, and the weird mini calendar view at the top of the agenda. However, I can see Google Calendar power users really enjoying this app

Summary

At one point I actually had all 3 apps on my phone, and though I removed Sunrise eventually (I mainly use my iCloud calendars), I’d be happy to add it back once they integrate with iCloud. Since all 3 apps are relatively new, it’s exciting to see what future updates they come out with My final thoughts:

• All 3 apps are free, so you have nothing to lose by trying each out
• No tasks/to-dos integrated with any of them – what a shame
• Highly recommend downloading Tempo, just so you can get on the waiting list

My favorite out of these 3 has to be Tempo – it wins in both design and functionality, but I’m keeping my eyes out for updates on all 3!
Hope you all enjoyed this mini-review Do you use the calendar app on your phone a lot? Love to hear your thoughts!

my current perfume collection -

1. What was your first perfume you ever purchased?

That would be Tommy Hilfiger Tommy Girl back in 5th grade. I remember that perfume was the it perfume back then, and of course the 11-year old me had to have it too.

2. What’s your signature perfume?

Chanel Chance Eau Tendre and Burberry Brit Sheer

I wear Chanel Chance Eau Tendre and Burberry Brit Sheer equally as much, but if I had to pick one, it’d be Chanel Chance. I absolutely love the way it smells – very soft and feminine, and I like how it’s not one of those perfume everyone has, which makes it a bit more unique

3. What’s your most recent perfume purchase?

Victoria’s Secret Bombshell, Forever 21 Love & Beauty

The last perfume I actually bought was Forever 21 Love & Beauty ¹. Apparently it’s a dupe for the Victoria’s Secret Pink, but I’ve never tried the latter so I can’t say. Either way it smells and looks lovely, and it’s very affordable! Victoria’s Secret Bombshell is the most recent addition to my collection, and was a Christmas gift from my fiance’s aunt

4. What perfume would you wear at nighttime/date night?

Victoria’s Secret Bombshell, Vera Wang Princess, Niki Taylor Begin

You really can’t go wrong with Victoria’s Secret’s perfumes when it comes to date night, and Niki Taylor Begin is a surprisingly lovely scent, considering I have no idea where this perfume came from²!

5. What’s your favorite spring/summer perfume?

Burberry Brit Sheer, Yves Rocher Flower Party, DKNY Be Delicious Fresh Blossom

Burberry Brit Sheer is a favorite in the springtime, and when it gets warmer I switch to DKNY Be Delicious Fresh Blossom. Yves Rocher Flower Party is there for those days that I want a little more oomph to my scents, without it being an overkill.

6. What’s your favorite fall/winter perfume?

To me fall/winter perfumes are interchangeable with nighttime/date night perfumes. Vera Wang Princess pretty much is my go-to perfume when it gets cold, with a bit of Niki Taylor Begin every now and then.

7. What’s your favorite scent category (fruity, floral, fresh, oriental, woody)?

Fruity and floral. I also tend to favor fresher scents over muskier ones.

8. What perfume are you currently lusting after?

Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue and Dior Miss Dior. And any of the Escada limited edition scents

9. What fragrance/cologne do you like on your significant other?

To me all men scents, whether it’s cologne or deodorant, smell the same: sexy. But I do like what my fiance wears³: Burberry Touch and Ralph Lauren Polo Blue.

Hope you all enjoyed this post, and I’d love to see you guys do this tag on your blog It’s always fun to read what perfumes other people like.

I recently got a notice in the mail saying that the settlement date for my new home has been set on March 19th, which is in less than 2 months This definitely came as a surprise because the builders initially told me that it wasn’t going to be completed until early April. With that date set, I decided it was time to plan out the rooms of the new place, one of them being the master bedroom

So far the only item that’s set on this list is the bed. I’ve been looking for a tufted bed in that color for a good price for a while, and originally I thought Z Gallerie had good prices (~ $1200 USD), but when I saw this bed on Joss and Main for $750, I purchased it immediately. It works out because furniture takes weeks to ship, so I should get it just in time for moving

As for the rest of the items, I’m holding off on them until it gets closer to moving date. As a matter of fact a couple of the pieces¹ I’m not too thrilled about, so I might end up with something totally different. But either way, it’s really exciting to be able to pick out exactly what I want for my room for the first time

What are your favorite pieces in your current bedroom, and where did you get them? Love to hear all about it!

• Finished grad school and got my master’s degree in Information Systems
• Started working full time
• Bought my first home
• Got engaged

12.25.2012. Yes, he proposed on Christmas day!

Talk about ending 2012 with a bang The past year was just as eventful as 2011, but in a good way¹. I truly have a lot to be thankful for, and even though I haven’t posted in my Quiet Times category, I still gotta give God credit where credit is due. He told me at the beginning of 2012 that it was going to be a year beyond my expectations, and His promises never fail

So there’s to looking back. Now to looking forward! My resolutions are pretty simple for 2013:

1. be more consistent in doing my QT
2. blog more!
3. spend less, save more

The 3rd resolution is pretty much a continuation of my 2012, but intensified. Not only do I have the payments on the rest of the home, I now have a wedding to save for as well Speaking of home, here’s a sneak peak:

2 weeks into construction!

So happy 2013 to everyone, hope you all have an amazing year!

I was fortunate enough to be given the opportunity to try out a line of hair products from nuNAAT, and based on my thinning, damaged hair, I chose the NAAT Treatment Repair Care with Açai Berry and Keratin line.

From left: hair mask, shampoo, leave-in treatment, and conditioner

This line claims to reverse the affects of age and combat hair loss, thanks to its potent ingredients:

• Acai berry
• Vitamins A, B1, C, and E
• Hydrolyzed Keratin Protein

All 4 products have the  same scent, which reminds me of a berry yogurt protein smoothie¹, and it’s very light. I can see people liking this light scent, but I’m personally not a fan. However, scent is the last of my concern when it comes to my search

Shampoo

Intensive Hair Mask

Now we’re talking. At first I was disappointed in how thin this mask felt - it’s very yogurt like – not thick or creamy. However, after using this², I definitely noticed that my hair was softer and more moisturized. I’ve actually been using this in place of the conditioner every timer I shower now, and my damaged hair is loving it!

looks and feels like blueberry yogurt!

Leave-in Treatment

Proof of poor product design

In the history of products, I don’t think I’ve ever had this happen to me before So  now I have to screw open the cap every time I use it, which ironically is much more convenient. That’s no good

Final Verdict

I’m definitely repurchasing the hair mask once I finish it, not to use as a hair mask, but as a conditioner. $5.90 for 17.6 oz worth of product is such a steal, and I wouldn’t feel bad about using it every time I might repurchase the shampoo because I do like how my hair reacts to it, but it’s definitely no HG product.

As for the conditioner and leave-in, I’ll pass on those. For the price, I think there are definitely better products out there³.

Hope you all enjoyed this series, I’ll be posting more hair product reviews in the future! Oh and congratulations to Cat for winning the Marshall’s giftcard giveaway!

I’ve been meaning to do a post on my fall fashion essentials way back in September, but better late than never, right?

Marshall’s was kind enough to send me a $100 giftcard so I can checkout the styles they have in store this fall. For those of you that haven’t heard of Marshall’s, it’s a discount chain that offers brand name fashion, accessories, and home decor at affordable prices. Even before they sent me the giftcard, I was shopping there regularly¹ because the value you get is such fantastic.

This fall I definitely wanted to experiment with color and fabric. I usually prefer neutrals and light colors, which are great, but can get boring:

• I decided to pick up a pair bold red of Guess heels to add some oomph to my look It’s the exact same pair in those photos, but I got mine for $23.
• Leather jackets are a must. They add edge, define your shape, and they’re surprisingly warm! I scored a similar jacket for only $50!
• I also picked up a couple fun tops, like the sequined one in the photo. It brings fun and dimension to an otherwise flat outfit, and only for $12 each.
• Orange is big for the fall, and if you don’t want to wear orange tops or pants, accessorize with an orange bag instead. If you’re lucky, you can find a couple of Michael Kors bags in Marshall’s for half the price!
• Though I usually wear silver jewelry, gold is the way to go this fall! It compliments richer, jewel-toned colors better than silver.

So there you go, I was able to put together an entire outfit for under $100, courtesy of Marshall’s They were also generous enough to send me another $100, which I’ll be giving away to one of you guys!

Giveaway details & rules

• This giveaway is for a $100 Marshall’s giftcard
• open to US readers only²
• from 10/31/2012 to 12/01/2012
• must be 18 or older or have parent’s consent to give me your address when you win
• fraudulent entries will be disqualified - NO Blogs/Twitter accounts created solely for giveaway purposes!
• Leave a comment about your fall fashion essentials and what you’d buy with the giftcard

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hope everyone has a great Halloween, and for those of you in areas still affected by Sandy, stay safe!

new house

Back on topic, I recently ordered a couple NYX products off Cherry Culture:

I have an obsession with nail polishes and makeup

In my defense Cherry Culture was having a 20% discount storewide, so how could I pass up these darling polishes at $3.50 a pop?

From left: NPS205 Manhattan, NPS143 Femme, NPS191 Soft Teal, NPS 186 Be Jeweled

Right off the bat the packaging and shape reminded me of the Deborah Lippman nail polishes, with a slightly longer and non-rubberized cap.

From left: NPS209 Ice Glitter, NPS157 Peach Fuzz, NPS173 Angelica, NPS156 Forever Young

There were 140+ shades to choose from, so it was very hard for me to limit my selection to just 8. I know I have to many pinks and neutral shades, but I couldn’t help getting more. Here’s a Peach Fuzz on my nails:

Ignore my awful nail beds, nail shape, and Cooper’s fluff between my fingers

It doesn’t show up clearly in the photos, but there’s a hint of shimmer, which I love. The color reminds me a bit of OPI Italian Love Affair, except less bright and more flattering for my skin tone. It took 2 coats to get full coverage and it wasn’t streaky at all

From left: Pinky and Angel

Wanting to get something different than my usual peachy pink blush, I decided to pick up Pinky – a medium hot pink, and Angel – a light peachy gold. I’m totally loving Pinky because it’s actually a very wearable and flattering color, though I have to apply very lightly or risk looking like a clown D: Angel is actually great as a highlighter, and I’ve found using it over Pinky creates a very soft flush of color.

Angel and Pinky. Obviously Pinky will look ridiculous if you applied this much.

That’s it for this haul! From now on my posts will consist of mostly reviews and tutorials – speaking of which, a hair tutorial will be coming soon! Thanks for reading and hope you all have a wonderful week!