Outfit of the Day/Night

On Friday, I had a meeting at the new job I will be starting at in July. Friday also happened to be date night this week, so I decided to dress business casual with a bit of lace and ruffle for a flirty look. I put together this outfit that would go from a working day to a date night with your guy. The ruffle and lace top is from Forever 21 and the wide leg denim pants are from Express. I also chose to wear my black wedges from H&M. Make up stayed simple with some black brown eyeliner and mascara.

My boyfriend took me to a casual French bistro in Hillcrest, and it was delightful! From top left clockwise: Escargots, Calamari, Pork Medallions, and Lobster Risotto.

For some reason, I've been neglecting accessories. I'm definitely in some sort of funk and need to get out of it. Maybe it's time to buy some new jewelry?? :) 

How I Clean My Makeup Brushes

I kind of have a love/hate relationship with my makeup brushes. I go through phases where I will use them for all my makeup, and then for some reason I'll stop using them completely. I started buying makeup brushes about two years ago, and like many girls, I started with ELF cosmetics. They are cheap and sturdy, and as far as I know, they get the job done. However, I began researching makeup brushes and before I knew it, I had increased my collection with brushes from Physicians' Formula to Sigma to Crown Brushes. I bought a set of Crown Brushes from Hautelook a while ago, and I haven't even begun to use it! I might have a problem, but at least I know I have great brushes when my phase kicks in again! 

Now, cleaning brushes is another story. If you use your brushes on a regular basis, you're supposed to clean it every day. I don't know anyone that actually cleans their brushes every single day after using them. I will usually clean them every week when I do use them frequently. However, it is a chore, and I'm just lazy. When I do clean my brushes, I use two products: the ELF Daily Brush Cleaner and Baby Wash. 

First, I spray my brushes generously with the ELF Daily Brush Cleaner. It doesn't have a very pleasant smell, but it disinfects the brushes and makes it moist. Then, I put a pea-size drop of Baby Wash on the back of my hand and rub a brush in a circular motion. It begins to foam and after about 20 seconds I run it under the faucet. I do this with each brush, and afterwards, I dry them on a table but have them leaned against something so they face down at an angle. 


I'm very interested at how other people clean their brushes; is it a chore for you as it is for me??

Healthy Smoothies

I posted this picture on my Facebook one day, and my friend asked me if I got inspired from the Food Network Star challenge where one contestant made this smoothie for a bunch of kids. No, I did not. I've seen these smoothies around for some time now, but I've never tried it myself, so I figured since I'm on a new workout routine, I would try it. If my mom fed me this smoothie when I was a kid, I would probably be traumatized and never touch another smoothie again. Fortunately, I'm older and hopefully wiser, so I know that this is good for me.

I recently started the Insanity workout, and I'm trying to eat healthier because I don't want to be working my butt off for nothing. The Insanity workout is truly insane, and I feel like fainting in the middle of the workouts, but the good thing about insane workouts is that it really makes you try to eat healthier. The harder you work out, the more you don't want it to go to waste. For me, this has definitely kicked into gear with my new routine. Of course, since I live with my boyfriend, we still go out to eat all the time, but at least when I'm looking for food myself, I can just make this smoothie, which keeps me satisfied for a couple of hours. 

This recipe is definitely not structured, and every time I make this smoothie, I change it up a bit. Either more fruit or less greens. Usually it's because I know more fruit and less greens will taste better. If you have a blender and are looking to eat better, definitely give this a try!

Ingredients: 
Organic Golden Flax Powder (Costco)
Fage Total 0% fat Greek Yogurt (Costco)
Frozen fruit: strawberries, kiwis, mangos, pineapple
Fresh fruit: apple, banana
Veggies: half a cucumber, a few pieces of kale, carrot
Water or Soy Milk (half a cup)

 

I make this during the morning, and it yields two large cups for me. This is definitely not a substitute for any meal, and I wouldn't recommend it that way, either. I find this helpful because it makes me eat a lighter lunch and dinner. I drink one cup in the morning and I find that I'm not starving at lunch time. I drink the second cup after Insanity, and that helps me eat a lot lighter for dinner. The flax seed is also very helpful for digestion, and you will definitely notice within an hour!! I think the flax seed and Greek yogurt are very important. Protein makes your stomach happy. Other than that, I think this is a great way to curb your appetite, stay healthy and increase vitamin intake!

Currently Obsessed...

Aren't these shoes amazing? I love the green bottoms, and the studs are so edgy. I've always drawn inspiration from Top Shop, so I'm really excited that it's in the US, even though the closest store is in Las Vegas. Nevertheless, their style is so cute yet classy, and I'm loving their dresses in their prom line as well!

Top Shop: Stud Black Peeptoe Court shoes by Chloe J. Green

US Open OOTD

What an amazing weekend! Road trip to San Francisco for the US Open Golf at Olympic Club. As you can imagine, there were several strict guidelines and recommendations for the US Open. For example, no bright colors, jeans were not recommended, and of course a hat was necessary. I know it's been pretty hot up in norcal this weekend (high 80's!), but I wasn't ready to wear shorts or a short dress just because I knew it would be cooler in San Francisco. Also, since the event might last all day, I also brought a blazer in case it got chilly.

Top: Gilly Hicks Spring 2012, Skirt: Forever 21 Spring 2012, Hat: Urban Outfitters Spring 2012

Shoes: Jill in Coral ShoeMint, Bag: Forever 21 Spring 2011, Nail: Rage by Orly (hands) and Natasha by Julep (toes)

Overall, I must say I felt pretty prepared with my floppy hat going into the tournament, but of course, I left with my shoulders burnt and back really red. I have a horrendous racerback tan, and I'm freaking out because my sister's wedding is in 2 months and our bridesmaid dresses are strapless. Any ideas??

Sperry Top Siders

Aren't these the cutest Sperry's ever?? During the winter, I can't put my moccasins down, so my friend recommended Sperry's for the spring and summer. I must say she has got my style down to the T! I am loving these Sperry's! I didn't see them during the Nordstrom's semi annual sale, but I'm really obsessing over these right now! I can't decide if I will get sick of the metallic color though... but rose gold just looks so good!! What do you guys think???

Summer Outfit

Is it summer yet? 

Even though it's still gloomy here in La Jolla, I'm so ready to break out my denim shorts and bright colors. I absolutely cannot wait to play around with color this summer! It's definitely a challenge since I'm so used to my neutrals, but I think I'm actually getting the hang out it! this coral top is from a small boutique in Pasadena called Gossip, and my shorts are from Abercrombie. The booties (because the sun refuses to come out!) are from Cathy Jean.

Outfit Of The Day - SD County Fair

I've been listening to a lot of Demi Lovato lately (I know, I'm still trying to hold onto my youth!) and my boyfriend tells me he heard on the radio Demi Lovato will be performing at the SD County Fair. Of course, we had to go check it out, so this was what I wore to the fair! I was waiting for the sun to come out literally ALL day, but it never came out. I knew I wanted to wear a cute dress, but I needed to keep my feet warm since the venue is outdoors. I decided to pair this white sundress with a nice warm blazer and my booties from Cathy Jean. The booties are actually a brown/grey color, and they have lots of buckles and zippers along the sides. I was actually surprised at how cute this outfit was, and it even kept me warm all night!

 

Make up was kept really simple: just BB Cream, concealer, and mascara. My eyes have been pretty dry lately so I didn't want to irritate them more with eyeliner. I guess it's pretty obvious since my eyes look like they're floating in the concert picture :) Nevertheless, I had tons of fun being surrounded by teenage girls all night.

High Wasited Denim Shorts

I'm absolutely loving the look of high waisted denim shorts. These from Forever21 are the perfect denim shorts for the summer. Unfortunately, they've sold out and have no idea if they will restock. I'm looking for ones that are similar, but these are exactly what I'm obsessing! LOVE!

These are the same shorts. I really like the American flag detailing on the pocket flaps, and I love the wash of these as well. I feel like these just look so casual and are perfect for any summer outing.

High Waisted

Jump Into Water!

It's finally time to buy swimwear! Not that I need any, but the thought of seeing what's "in" this season for swim is always something I look forward to. Although most of my swim suits are bikinis, I love the idea of a one piece. H&M has such a cute one for this spring, and only $34.90!

H&M Summer 2012 $34.95

Zara Summer 2012 $19.90

Zara Summer 2012 $19.90

H&M Summer 2012 $14.95

 

This last swim top is from H&M, and I just like the halter style. I also love the gold accents with the white! If you're having a hard time buying swim suits, it's always good to get an idea of your body shape. For me, I have a bigger bottom, so I don't like to wear string bottoms. I prefer the banded ones like the pink one from Zara. For tops, I prefer halters or bandeaus. It's always a good idea to have a solid color swim suit because those never go out of style. It's also good to have a black or white bottom so you can match different tops with that one bottom. Now that I've picked my swim wear, it's time to work on that body!

To Keep Or Not To Keep?

Shopping at Forever 21 has gotten less exciting these days. I just feel the quality keeps going down while prices keep increasing. However, I saw this hot pink blazer and couldn't decide if I really wanted it. It's $24.90, so pretty good for a blazer. The quality is average, but not terrible. I'm really on the fence on this jacket because it's such a trendy piece. How much will I actually wear this?? I mean, will this last till next spring?? The fit is actually pretty good so I purchased it thinking I still have 2 weeks to decide. A week later, I'm still stumped. What do you guys think???

Asian Beauty Product Review: Rave

The Strawberry Yogurt Amino Acid Cleanser from My Beauty Diaries

When I was a little girl, I would buy tons of stickers and cute stationary goodies from Taiwan. They seriously have the cutest Hello Kitty products, not to mention the pencils, pens, and cards!! Now, when I go back to Taiwan, I can't help but go crazy at all the new skincare products that you can't find in the U.S.

My favorite brand of face sheet masks is My Beauty Diaries. I particularly use the hyaluronic (blue ones) and arbutin-a (pink ones). MBD comes out with new products every season, from face wash to toners to make up removers, they have everything! I first heard about this Strawberry Yogurt face wash from Fuzkittie. She mentioned it smells just like strawberries, and that was literally the point where I decided I had to try it. 

 

First off, I know I shouldn't care about packaging as much as the product itself, but look at it! It comes in the most absolute cutest little pink pot, and the cute strawberries don't hurt either! It also comes with a small white plastic spatula, but I started using the spatula for something else when this product was finished. Isn't this cute? Now onto the review...

This cleanser is on the drying side. It does remove the oils and dirt off your face, and you really feel clean and refreshed afterwards. You need to have a very good moisturizer or else you will begin peeling a couple days into this cleanser. I alternated using this cleanser and my Noxema cleanser just because it was so drying. 

It smells literally like strawberries, and not the soapy kind of smell either. It smells amazing, and it even has these micro beads for a bit of exfoliation. It's not the best cleanser just because it's so drying on my skin, but it does the job, and I would definitely recommend it for someone who doesn't have a lot of skin problems. For example, this is solely a facial cleanser. It does not have anti-acne properties, and it does do anything other than clean your skin. It removes make up very well, but if you have problematic skin, you may not be satisfied. It foams up really nicely, and I like to use it with my clarisonic at night. I'm happy with the purchase, but I probably would be tempted to try their newer products rather than repurchase.

Aquariums, Hikes, and Picnics!

I went to the Birch aquarium last weekend, and I can honestly say the view from the aquarium was more fascinating than the specimen of fish they had on display! I mean, I enjoyed looking at the fish and all, but I was again mesmerized at how beautiful the ocean view was when we walked outside. Sometimes I feel like I take it for granted, living so close to the beach and all, but I'm definitely going to be more adventurous this next half of the year! That means more beach trips, hiking, and picnicking!

Absolutely beautiful view from the Birch Aquarium

Upside Down Jelly Fish!!

Aquarium Fun!

View from a hike!

 The last picture is a view from the Torrey Pines hiking trail. It's one of the few hiking areas around La Jolla, and even on a weekday morning, tons of tourists and foreigners are hiking to get a glimpse of the beautiful Pacific Ocean. 

Lastly, I went picnicking at Balboa Park the other day with my friend. It was probably the most relaxing 2 hours I've had for a while. Just people watching and chatting like we had no worries... Sometimes the little things mean the most to our everyday lives...