City of Bones: The Mortal Instruments NYX Makeup Collection Review

Hello Everyone,

NYX cosmetic company just came out with a makeup collection inspired by a series of book called City of Bones. A movie will be coming out in August, however, I am not sure if the movie will be better than the book. I did enjoy reading the book, but when I saw the movie trailer..... I am not sure if I will watch it. It's about a character named Clary Fray who finds our she is a Shadowhunter, which are half-angel and half human warriors, during her quest to find her mother who have been kidnapped. With her newfound powers, she met some fellow shadowhunters and also battle demons along the way to save her mother.

The packaging is cute, but very bulky. I like using these type of boxes to store makeup that I use everyday so it doesn't clutter up my table.

On the top of the box, there is a black decorative jewel that is absolutely adorable.

Outside the box, there is a picture that shows what is inside.

Now, here is what's inside the box:

This Look Book help you recreate a Day Look similar to Clary and Night Look similar to Isabel.

I see some makeup....

This collection has very nice collection combination that I can't wait to wear. 

For the eyeshadow palette, I do like all the colors except for the one with the glitter shadow on the left. I am nota big fan of glitter eyeshadows.

My favorite colors are the shimmery beige and the purple (pic below: the middle swatch and the last swatch all the way to the right). With this palette, you can also create an ombre look. The glitter shadow swatch comes out uneven (shade on the bottom) and does not look very appealing to wear.

The pink color on the right of the eyeshadow swatches is a soft matte lip cream in the color Istanbul. It feels dry on my lips after 30 minutes of wear which I don't like at all. I prefer lip gloss over matte lip creme. 

I do like this blush from NYX called Pinched. It's a very opaque pink. A little dab of your blush brush goes a long way. 

Another item that I do like is the NYX Jumbo Pencil in Cashmere. I used it before and really like the shimmer. During the summer I normally just apply one color of eyeshadow on my eyelid to keep it looking natural. The color Cashmere would be something I would wear all summer.

There is also a mascara in the collection, but I have not used it because I have lash extensions. I don't like putting mascara over my lash extensions so I was not able to test it out. Le Frou Frou mascara looks very promising and the spool does not pick up a lot of product which is what I like. That means you won't get too much clumping and easy to build up.

The last product is the liquid eyeliner. I have used this before and it takes a lot of precision and steady hand to create a nice wing. It's not bad, but takes some practice to perfect.

Overall, this collection does have a lot of wearable colors. I would recommend buying it and don't forget, it comes with a nice box that you can store and display on your shelf.

Back to studying..... 

Until next time,  

stay healthy, beautiful, and inspired.

Have a great night!

<3 <3 <3

Eyelash Extensions Update

Hello Everyone,

I have mentioned about eyelash extensions in the past and I have gotten them again. This time, it will be here to stay because paying for the initial fee are always expensive. One important thing about eyelash extensions is the commitment. If you are planning to just get it done one time, it may not be worth your while and the money. Another important thing is finding a place that does a good job. It took me several tries to find a place that knows what they are doing.

Here are two places that I would recommend in the city: The Social Beauty Co and Lash Tec. I do prefer The Social Beauty Co more because the two owners are very knowledgeable and they do a superb job.

I have very minimal makeup on and nothing on my eyes. With the eyelash extensions, there is no need to even apply mascara or eyeshadows. It automatically brightens up your eyes.

These lashes were done at The Social Beauty Co 5 days ago and they still look good. Their prices on listed on their website. I go back every 2 -2.5 weeks to get them filled and cleaned up.

There are different length and thickness depending on your preference. However, if you pick the thicker lashes, they will feel heavy and fall out faster than the thinner ones if your original lashes cannot support them. I would suggest starting out thin and make adjustments as you go. I have the thinner lashes on currently and I will probably stay with the same ones.

I hope this helps in your decision on getting eyelash extensions. I have been maintaining them for almost 3 months and will definitely continue. The average price to maintain them every 2-3 weeks is $65 at The Social Beauty Co. Some people get mani-pedi every month, I get my eyelash done instead and the price is almost the same.

And yes, I am snacking on Flaming Hot Cheetos!

Until next time, 

stay healthy, beautiful, and inspired.

Have a great night!

<3 <3 <3

50 Random Facts about Me Tag

Hello Everyone,

I thought it would be fun to do a 50 Random Facts About Me Tag for my viewers to get to know me a little bit better.

1. When I take notes, I like to write in different colors
2. I love really spicy food
3. I like to eat weird food (eg, chicken feet, stinky tofu, pigs feet, intestines, etc)
4. I am a foodie
5. I have my TV on the Food Network channel ALL the time..... food porn. OMG... I have to stop talking about food because I am drooling.
4. My pet peeves are: flaky people and people who don't mean what they say
5. I tend to trust people first but once that is broken, there is no way for me to trust them again
6. I like to tell people what to do.... maybe that is why I like being a project manager
7. I like tasks done in a certain way.... my little OCD.
8. I dont like my cereal being soggy
9. I love drinking tea, no coffee for me, thank you
10. I sleep on my side and on my stomach
11. I get really hot and really cold easily
12. I don't care if I wear different color socks just as long as other people don't see them
13. I tend to lose things
14. When things need to get done, I get them done. Bam Bam Thank you Ma'am!
15. When I go on vacation, I like to take full advantage of the activities there instead of just relaxing and doing nothing.
16. My bag is always stuffed, no matter how small or how big it is. Hey, it doesn't hurt to carry around an extra pound of lipgloss.
17. I like to watch scary movies
18. My favorite food is pho and hot pot.... anything with soup. See, again I am talking about food
19. I love candles. Something about them makes me feel relaxed
20. I love Christmas
21. I have a sweet spot for people who are thoughtful
22. I used to be a tomboy
23. I like to collect unique salt and pepper shakers
24. I like to sing in my car when  I am by myself
25. I always dreamed about winning the lottery and what I would do with the money
26. My favorite color is white
27. I am obsessed with bags
28. I like to take on challenges
29. I can pick up things with my feet
30. I never finish my drinks unless it is a shot
31. In high school, I played basketball, tennis, and was in the gymnastic team
32. My family has always told me they found me in the dumpster
33. When I was younger I collect comic books
34. I only have one dimple on the left side of my face
35. I fell down a flight of stairs and broke my nose when I was younger so sometimes I have trouble breathing through my nose
36. When I was younger, I lost my two front teeth when I fell down a flight of stairs... I see a theme here with the flight of stairs..... yes, note to myself, be careful when walking down a flight of stairs
37. I got attacked by a dog when I was younger and was able to get over my fear of dogs. Now, I love them like my little baby Mochi.
38. My first car was a Honda Civic and I had that for about 11 years before I gave it up.
39. I only had two cars so far in my life
40. I am horrible about giving driving directions. I never remember the name of the streets.... I just know how to get there.
41. My very first job was working in a science lab. Yeah, I know... how boring right?
42. I got braces in my mid-20's and I would have different color rubber bands on them
43. I love to multi-task... anything to save time
44. I don't like being on a plane with really bad turbulence.... I get nervous
45. I like to cook
46. I never finished watching The Godfather
47. I secretly love the smell of gasoline
48. I talk to Mochi (my dog) like she is human... call me crazy
49. My favorite animals are turtles, pigs, giraffes, owls, and monkeys
50. I can only lift my right eyebrow, but not my left

Ok, I am glad to get to 50 before I start listing out crazier things about me.

Until next time,
stay healthy, beautiful. and inspired.

Have a great night!
<3 <3 <3

Jo Malone Nectarine Blossom & Honey

Hello Everyone,

For those who love fruity, sweet scents, I found another great perfume to keep an eye out for. It's the Nectarine Blossom & Honey (NBH) by Jo Malone.

Jo Malone's product are sky high expensive that is why I use it sparingly. The first time I smelled it was in a magazine ad and I like anything with honey so it was calling my name.

I went to the mall to smell it one more time to make sure I liked it and that it wasn't just a fluke because it is expensive. I didn't pick it up at the time, but it was on my mind for two weeks. Then I decided to  get it. So, it is something to think about before making the purchase.

It has a combination of ripening nectarines, refreshing peach sorbet, hints of plum, blackcurrant combined with acacia honey.

The smell is fantastic, but I just wish the scent would stay on longer.
It comes it with cute packaging.

I got both the cologne and body creme. I love spraying this on my clothes. It doesn't smell like you are wearing a heavy perfume. Very clean and refreshing.

I am also taking on making my own jewelry. After watching some of the videos from HRH, I feel inspired. I have ordered most of the items shown here from ebay.

Hopefully, I will be able to complete my bracelets with the beautiful swarovski crystals to show in my later blogpost. 

Wish me luck!

Until next time, 

stay healthy, beautiful, and inspired.

Have a great night!

<3 <3 <3

Cooking with Sugarcookie #17: How I make Vietnamese Spring Rolls

Hello Everyone,

During the summer I like to eat light for dinner and this is one of my favorite dish to make. For about $24, you can make about 30-35 spring rolls, maybe even more.

I would use half of the ingredients and make about 12 spring rolls at a time. This will last me about 3 days. Another nice thing about this dish is it is good to eat it cold. So once you make the rolls, you can take them out of the fridge and eat them right away.

It's healthy and very simple to make. Most of the work is in the prepping.

First, I would start cooking the meat. I bought 1 pound of pork butt. Slice them as thin as you like and cook them in boiled water. For this dish, I don't even add salt at all.

After the pork has been cooked (10-15minutes), I take them out and add shrimp into the same boiling water. The shrimp gets cooked very fast. Once they turn pink, it is ready to scoop them out. After the shrimp is cooked, I peel off the skin and slice them in half.

While those were cooking, I was prepping/washing the red lettuce, cucumbers, basil leaves, and cooking the noodles in just boiled water.

Now that everything is done, the last thing is the wrap. All you need to do is soak the wrap in cold water for a second and it will get soft and sticky.

When wrapping, don't put too much ingredients inside or else it will be hard to roll. Wrap it like a burrito and then it is ready to eat!!! I like to eat my spring rolls with sriracha hot sauce on the side as a dip.

Bon Appetit!

Until next time,

stay healthy, beautiful, and inspired.

Have a great night!

<3 <3 <3

Pandora Jewelry Review

Hello Everyone,

Pandora jewelry was first introduced to the US in 2000. It has been around for a while and has really expanded in the last few years. I remember seeing this in a jewelry store in the East Coast two years ago and thought it was a great idea. Then a Pandora store opened in a mall near me, but I never stepped a foot inside the store because I know would want to collect them all.

If you remember in the past there was this huge rave about the Italian Charm bracelet. This is a similar idea, but so much better.
What I love about Pandora is the bracelet is very versatile. You can wear it by itself or with a few simple charms. If you have two bracelets, you can make it into a necklace. Just an endless amount of ways you can wear the jewelry. The quality is the same as what you would get at Tiffany & Co. and it cost less.

When I was younger, there was a fashion no-no where gold and silver cannot be worn together. I have always broken that rule because I love the way they look together and Pandora does that combination. I am waiting for my other bracelet to come in where the clasp is made out of 14K and the bracelet is sterling silver.

There are many different brands of bracelets out there with the same charm concept, but quality of the jewelry at Pandora is beyond what I have expected. Each piece is handcrafted with a nice heavy weight that will last forever. 

I want to complete my bracelets and eventually pass them down to my children one day. The charms I have will reflect who I am and the stages in my life.

I tried to get charms that are two tone, however, they are a bit more expensive because the gold is made out of 14K.

Here is what I have so far on my Pandora bracelet:
Bag- I am a total bag lady. It can be high end or low end bags as long as I like the style.
Shoe- I love fashion and clothes. Also, to represent my blogs.
Scottie (dog)- the closest to representing Mochi (my dog)
Teapot- I love drinking tea

 It also looks nice stacked with a watch:

I also got a pink leather bracelet from Pandora because I like to show my support for breast cancer awareness and since two of my uncles passed away with cancer I like to support any cancer research that are out there.

These jewelry will last forever and will be a good sentimental value to give to your children.

Also loving my $5 owl theme mousepad to match my white table.

Until next time,

stay healthy, beautiful, and inspired.

Have a great night!

<3 <3 <3